Nazem Kadri
A skilled and tenacious center who battled through controversy to become a central figure in Colorado's 2022 Stanley Cup victory.
Born 1990 (age 36)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: October 6·Millennials
Biography
Nazem Kadri scored four points in Game 4 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final, returning from a broken thumb and a racial abuse incident to help the Colorado Avalanche win their first championship since 2001. The Toronto Maple Leafs selected him seventh overall in the 2009 draft. His early years in Toronto showcased offensive talent but also drew attention for physical, often controversial play. A 2019 trade to Colorado transformed his career. In Denver, he set personal bests with 87 points in the 2021-22 season and became a reliable two-way center behind Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. Kadri played 15 NHL seasons, logging over 1,000 games. His 2022 postseason run included 15 points in 16 games. The Canadian center signed with the Calgary Flames in 2022 as a free agent.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Nazem was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Nazem Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Nazem's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022, contributing a critical four-point performance in the Final.
- Set a career-high with 87 points (28 goals, 59 assists) during the 2021-22 NHL season.
- Was selected 7th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
- Became the first Muslim player to win the Stanley Cup and hoist it on the ice.
Did You Know?
He is of Lebanese descent and is proud of his heritage, often speaking about the importance of diversity in hockey.
He played junior hockey for the London Knights, winning the OHL Championship in his final season.
He was suspended for eight games during the 2021 playoffs for an illegal hit, a punishment that fueled his comeback narrative the following year.
“I knew I had more to give. I wasn't going to let anything stop me from getting back and helping my team win.”
