The Daily: Flames’ Nazem Kadri talk, Carlson’s gruesome injury with Caps

The Calgary Flames need more from Nazem Kadri. Among many others. But outside of his disappointing performance on the ice this season after a hot start, people would prefer others keep his name out they mouths. (You have to read that in Will Smith's voice to make it work). James Reimer fully mouthed it while trying to defend his character while proactively addressing his reason for not wanting to wear the San Jose Sharks Pride jersey this weekend. Meanwhile, Washington Capitals defenceman had a skull fracture and severed artery after taking a slapshot in the head. Yikes. 

Calgary Flames

Craig Ellingson and I talked a little about the Nazem Kadri 'lull' this season after setting career highs with the Avalanche last year and winning the Stanley Cup. This was before the Elliotte Friedman podcast. 

Kadri didn't play a lot of minutes in another frustrating overtime loss on Saturday. 

Let's make this a triple-Kadri section, after San Jose Sharks goalie James Reimer mentioned Kadri's Muslim faith as a bit of a character reference after refusing to wear the Sharks Pride jersey. 

NHL News & National Hockey Now

Florida Hockey Now: It’s down to a three-team race for the two last spots in the Eastern Conference. The Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, and the Florida Panthers.

Washington Hockey Now: You may remember the ugly scene after a rising slapshot hit John Carlson in the face. He’s missed a few months and finally detailed the extent of his injuries, including a skull fracture and severed temporal artery. Here’s the full story from Sammi Silber on John Carlson.

Boston Hockey Now: The Buffalo Sabres may be a team with a bright future but the present was exposed by a powerhouse as they were blown out, 7-0, by the Boston Bruins.

Sportsnet: I’m not sure this will have good long-term outcomes. The Quebec provincial government kept the QMJHL afloat during the pandemic. Then the government exerted pressure to ban fighting (government money is never free). So, the Q will ban the scraps, but what about the OHL and WHL? Here’s the whole situation.

NYI Hockey Now: Things are getting tense on Long Island, too. No, they are not better without Mathew Barzal. The New York Islanders mailbag.

San Jose Hockey Now: Sheng Peng had some thoughts on Sharks goalie James Reimer not wearing the pride jersey. This is a big issue, but complicated. Can you be for people but against politics? Not everyone will agree with Sheng, but if you’d like to go on the journey of pondering what a good man like Reimer did, as good or bad, here you go. San Jose Sharks fallout.

T-Mobile: The Golden Knights smoked the Columbus Blue Jackets 7-2 Sunday. Forever Should Have Been A Calgary Flames star Jack Eichel scored a hat trick and started a new tradition.