If you find that confusing, if not counterintuitive, hey, don't worry about it — because it is.

Nonis was speaking on TSN 1050 on Thursday afternoon. He was asked directly if he was willing to trade Kadri, the team's most talented center, and answered thusly, according to a transcript by @Hope_Smoke:

"I think it's easy to say that Kadri is struggling but he's having a decent year. It's not like he's not putting up points. Last year he was producing against other teams' 2nd and 3rd lines. This year he is playing against better players … Kadri and (Jake) Gardiner's names are brought up quite a bit, so is (Morgan) Rielly's. We'd be willing to trade Kadri. There's a difference between willing to and trying to. If the right deal comes up we would do it."

And that's the rub for Nonis; sure, Kadri, at 23, is dealing with a down-tick in production. After a 44-point season last year in 48 games, he's at 27 (11 goals, 16 assists) through 45 games. Part of that was to be expected, though; he was aided last year by Toronto's high shooting percentage with him on the ice at even strength (15.2 percent), which meant more points. That's swung in the other direction this year, to 7.4 percent. That's a bit below the league average, around 8 percent.

From a less quantifiable standpoint, and within the context of the Leafs as a team, Kadri is the most offensively gifted center in a center-starved organization. He's also still quite young. In short, he's the exact sort of player Toronto needs, and unless they move him as part of a deal for a blue-chip, better-than-him center, it's tough to see how a move would make sense.

So sure, Nonis can be willing to trade Kadri — for a really, really good center. (Whether he's wise to say that on the radio is another issue entirely). But for the good of his team, he shouldn't be too quick on the trigger, because "the right deal" isn't going to be easy to find. Most teams like to hold on to their own really, really good centers.

BRUINS’ CHARA TO CARRY FLAG, LIKELY TO MISS TIME

Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara has been named Slovakia’s flag bearer for the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. While that means Chara will be there for his country, it isn’t great news for the Bruins blueline.

The opening ceremonies take place on February 7. The Bruins have games on February 6 and 8, their last two before the Olympic break, and Chara will likely miss one or both contests to participate in the ceremonies. Boston is already without Dennis Seidenberg, who was lost for the season with a torn ACL/MCL in his right knee.

You might think there’s a conflict between club and country here. But there isn’t- at least for the Bruins. Boston understands how much of an honor this is for Chara and has granted their stud defender permission to attend.

So Bruins fans should expect the February 6 game against the Canucks to be the last they see of Chara on the ice- at least until he suits up against the United States in Slovakia’s opener on February 13.

EVANDER KANE TO IR WITH LACERATED HAND

Winnipeg Jets forward Evander Kane has been placed on injured reserve, retroactive to January 7, with a lacerated hand. Kane had missed the Jets last two games with the injury.

No specific event has been pinpointed as the cause of the injury. However, Kane’s fight with Tampa Bay’s Eric Brewer at the end of that contest, could be the culprit. Kane appeared to check his hand after the fight was broken up by the linesmen.

The former No. 4 overall pick, has scored 14 goals and assisted on 11 others in 38 games this season. Winnipeg has gone 1-1 without Kane thus far, losing at home against Columbus but recording a 5-1 victory over the Coyotes on Monday. There is no time table yet for Kane's return.

The Jets have called up 22-year-old left wing Carl Klingberg from the AHL in a corresponding move. A former second-round pick in the 2009 draft, Klingberg has scored 11 times in 33 games, while adding seven assists and picking up 20 penalty minutes.

Contributors: Sean Gentille, Ben Valentine