2009-2010 Nazem Kadri
by Chemmy on Jun 16, 2010 1:00 PM EDT
in Reading the Tea Leafs
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PrintFrom Beauchemin to Stalberg, we're taking a look at and grading (please read the criteria below) the 2009-10 season for every player who laced 'em up for the Maple Leafs for a significant number of games during the campaign, with an eye towards 2010-11. That means only guys that are still property of the Maple Leafs. We're doing this in concert with Maple Leafs Hot Stove. Next up, Nazem Kadri.
Nazem Kadri
#43 / Center / Toronto Maple Leafs
6-0
175
Oct 6, 1990
Years in NHL: 0
Became a Leaf: Snatched from the spittle covered claws of Bryan Murray.
This is the kid we wanted. Nazem Kadri is a talented prospect with slick hands and a flair for dramatic moves that have completely embarassed defenders in the OHL.
He played one game in the NHL this year as an emergency recall against the San Jose Sharks where he was a minus one and didn't record a shot on net. Kadri represents our hopes as Leafs fans but it's important to temper your expectations: Kadri isn't the next Crosby and has a lot of work to do as a player and an athlete before he's ready to be our first line center.
Generously listed at 175 pounds the first obvious work Kadri has to do is putting on muscle. In the OHL he's a slick enough player to literally dance through defenders but that's not going to fly in the NHL.
Kadri also needs to adjust to the pro game in that he'll be surrounded by better players than he plays with in juniors. Actually on second thought maybe not... but Kadri will need to use his teammates more instead of trying to do it all himself. If he can land a job on the first line he's going to be playing with a pure shooter in Phil Kessel.
The Good:
Kadri was third in the OHL in points per game behind only Tyler Seguin and Taylor Hall. Kadri scored 35 goals and 58 assists for the Gilmour (93 pts) in only 56 games. Oh mama.
I have hope for Kadri's development. In his one game emergency recall against the San Jose Sharks Kadri's zone shift reveals he started a ridiculous 66% of his shifts in the offensive zone. Ron Wilson and the rest of the Leafs management know he's still raw. Brian Burke left Bobby Ryan in the AHL to hone his game and saw great results from letting Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf play in the AHL.
This is what Kadri needs.
The Bad:
A reminder that Kadri is a prospect and any knocks on his game right now are things he can work on. We shouldn't be overly harsh on a prospect whose game is still developing.
Kadri overcarries the puck and seems to let his emotions run wild (see his throat slash gesture at the World Juniors). Though enormously entertaining a team can't succeed if its first liners are in the penalty box for losing their cool. Kadri will absolutely need to get that under control.
The Ugly:
Look at how bad he undressed the Penguins last pre-season:
Sucks to be that goalie, huh?
The Discussion:
Why don't you own a Kadri jersey already?
Audience Participation:
Rate Kadri below on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the best) based on his performance relative to his potential and your expectations for the season - if he had the best year you could have imagined him having, give him a 10; if he more or less played as you expected he would, give him a 5 or a 6; if he had the worst year you could have imagined him having, give him a 1.
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I dunno. Pre-season he was awesome, I guess, but I never expected that to carry over. The one (?) regular season game I loved seeing him but it just made it clear to me that he needs more work.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jun 16, 2010 1:08 PM EDT reply actions
That video is fake. Toskala with the win in the shootout? I call BS.
I am Mikhail Grabovski's smirking revenge.
It’s amazing what they can do with video editing these days!
by CanadianMaple09 on Jun 16, 2010 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions
preseason
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jun 16, 2010 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions
I had never heard of him before the draft so I think it’s safe to say I had no expectations for him. I’m not sure what exactly we’re supposed to be rating him based on… his one NHL game in which he did virtually nothing? If that’s the case he should get 1’s across the board…
by CanadianMaple09 on Jun 16, 2010 1:08 PM EDT reply actions
On how tingly he makes us feel.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
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Well then, Eyebleaf!!! I rated him a 7 based on his OHL season being pretty darn good.
by CanadianMaple09 on Jun 16, 2010 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I gave him an eight: he played well in the OHL and is handsome.
Pension Plan Puppets*
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I gave him an 8, because for the one NHL game he did play, he wasn’t horrible. I think he has the potential to be a really good thing for the leafs, and his OHL year was fantastic. He needs more work, but he’s a lot better than I thought he would be.
"Every day you guys look worse and worse. And today you played like tomorrow." - John Mariucci
eyebleaf!!!1
I don’t think it’s too optimistic to expect in the future*:
Calder winner
50 goal scorer
19th Captain of the Leafs
Hall of Fame inductee
*Not necessarily all in the same year. But possibly.
Sons of '67: A drinking team with a hockey problem.
I think you’re setting the bar a little low.
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jun 16, 2010 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d gladly pass on all that for a different honour…
Nah, forget it, those are much more realistic.
by The '67 Sound on Jun 16, 2010 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions
I left the honour of ending the drought to our 18th Captain.
Sons of '67: A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jun 16, 2010 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions
I gave him an eyebleaf!!!1
He exceeded his previous year’s point total in the OHL by 15 in the same number of games.
He exceeded his previous year’s PIM total by 74. Truculence.
He had a fantastic pre-season.
And, exceeding all expectations, he played a game in the NHL.
I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.
This is silly. I refuse to rate this kid.
And it’s going to be a while before I do.
"Defense! Defense! Common! Do you call that blowing!?"
Your face is silly
You’ll rate him and you’ll like it.
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Jun 16, 2010 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
This poll is meant to be silly. Now you can vote!
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
For the record...
I’m not sure where people get this idea that Burke was overly patient with Perry and Getzlaf or for that matter Bobby Ryan.
Corey Perry played 19 regular season games in the AHL. He played 4 years in the OHL, but one was the NHL lockout year.
Same with Ryan Getzlaf. He played 17 games in the AHL and 4 years for the Hitmen including the NHL lockout season.
Bobby Ryan played less than a full season in the AHL, but he did return there two straight years for a portion of his season so there was certainly more grooming there.
Kadri played his full 4 OHL season’s so if history repeats itself I bet he plays at least some of this season in the NHL but I could see him in the AHL until Christmas or something like that…
Getzlaf scored 33 points in those 17 AHL games.
Perry scored 34 points in 19 AHL games.
Bobby Ryan scored 49 points in 48 AHL games the year he played 23 games with the Ducks and due to the cap he played a further 19.
These were all players with big expectations. If Tlusty had scored 20 points in his first 15 Marlies games he would have been with the big club no question.
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I’ve only ever heard that in regards to Ryan, and often as not the rationale has been the Duck’s cap issues as much as it’s been Burke wanting Ryan to have extra development time.
Ryan has played 168 NHL games and just one full NHL season. Compared to his first round 2005 NHL draft peers, he’s 10th in total games played (with the average GP for that round at 115). Of note, four of the 30 players drafted in that round have yet to play in the NHL and an additional three have played five NHL games or less.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
Rebuttal: Ryan’s the 2nd overall pick and is filthy.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Became a Leaf: Snatched from the spittle covered claws of Bryan Murray.
Awesome.
Not Liking Nikolai Kulemin Means You Have No Soul
10... if only because this one doesn't go to 11
1) Fantastic OHL regular season.
2) Amazing OHL playoffs.
3) Worked his way up from World Jr 4th line to #1 centre & top PP.
4) Let himself be coached by Burke as to why he was still in the OHL and what he needs to improve on.
5) Played an emergency game in the NHL and took even more lessons from the strength, speed, intensity, and work ethic required to play at the highest level.
6) Didn’t even look all that out of place in his 1 NHL game, despite lining up against Thornton, Marleau, Pavelski ,etc.
7) Earned rave reviews by Hunter & Co for his second half.
8) CUMA’D!!!!!!!
9) For already earning himself a variety of decent nicknames
10) The infamy that will forever be “Is that the guy you want?”.
And most awesomely, I found out he was going to be an emergency 1-game call-up on the radio, as I was driving on Lakeshore on my way to that Leafs-Sharks game…
Kadri
…
…
I have nothing interesting to say.
by blurr1974 on Jun 16, 2010 2:15 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
i just can’t stop watching the second one.
"Every day you guys look worse and worse. And today you played like tomorrow." - John Mariucci
by whyevenbother on Jun 16, 2010 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I love that the guy seemed genuinely upset and was checking to see if his victim was OK and Kadri still comes in and demolishes him.
by The '67 Sound on Jun 16, 2010 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I refuse to take this poll seriously until that one guy who always puts 1 for all our players votes.
Sons of '67: A drinking team with a hockey problem.
EVEN THAT GUY CAN’T DENY KADRI
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
oh wait, there he is
My Fan Base Can Beat Up Your Fan Base
by JaredFromLondon on Jun 16, 2010 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Ahhhhhhh and he has 5 accounts!
Sons of '67: A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jun 17, 2010 6:27 AM EDT up reply actions
someone should just check random accounts and see if you can find someone making those votes.
Not even the Toronto Maple Leafs could kill my optimism
Tyler Ennis: Freed from Portland!
That sounds like a lot of work and frankly I just don’t care that much.
Sons of '67: A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jun 17, 2010 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions
9
I expected him to have a good OHL season, put up a lot of points, but he just ran shit in the playoffs and the preseason showed that he has much potential to hang with the big boys
My Fan Base Can Beat Up Your Fan Base
by JaredFromLondon on Jun 16, 2010 2:25 PM EDT reply actions
I think
we all know how I voted.
These polls are the best, Jerry. The best.
A Toronto sports blog, where unabashed homerism is alive and well...
i love the “how he became a Leaf” part too
My Fan Base Can Beat Up Your Fan Base
by JaredFromLondon on Jun 16, 2010 3:21 PM EDT reply actions
6
I refuse to rate players based on starring in junior hockey – okay, I’ll give him a 6 instead of a 5 because he was slightly better at junior hockey then I thought he would be at junior hockey.
Give him a full season in the AHL – unless he tears the place apart.
I've been looking at the sky
Think of this as our silly poll.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
If anyone cares, the avg's so far...
Beauchemin 5.88
Bozak 7.81
Brent NA
Caputi 5.62
Exelby NA
Finger 3.02
Gigurere 7.26
Grabovski 5.17
Gunnarson 8.21
Gustavsson 7.25
Hanson 4.87
Irwin N/A
Kaberle 6.13
Cool. Thanks. We’re only doing players that played a significant number of games, or who were Kadri, so that’s why no Brent or Irwin, and we’d rather forget about Exelby so yeah not him either.
I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.
I figured you guys were just skipping ones who were pending UFAs who we didn’t expect to re-sign.
Sons of '67: A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jun 16, 2010 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Naw, we’re doing Primeau and Lundmark. No Wallin though cause we know he’s going back to the SEL.
I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.
Not in this format, no.
I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.
BCWW
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jun 16, 2010 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions
I still wouldn’t hate either at <600k. Gotta have cheap 4th liners.
Sons of '67: A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jun 16, 2010 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I love that (so far) almost everyone on a terribly disappointing team exceeded expectations!
by The '67 Sound on Jun 16, 2010 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Because everyone who would be scoring well below expectations is gone and they aren’t doing polls for them.
Resident Capologist
plus we haven’t even gotten to Kaberle yet
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jun 16, 2010 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Kaberle?
woah, i meant Toskala
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jun 16, 2010 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions
He didn’t end the season a Leaf. He doesn’t get one.
Sons of '67: A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jun 16, 2010 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions
:( But I want him to get one anyways.
I haven’t heaped enough fire on him yet.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jun 16, 2010 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Heh ya I did too, I asked a couple days ago.
He gets a vote anyway. -100.
Sons of '67: A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jun 16, 2010 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions
We already had our Toskala airing of grievances.
I want some therapy for Blake.
by A Lindros Jaw on Jun 16, 2010 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m not so sure none of the returnees (other than Finger so far) bore any responsibility for last year’s disappointment.
by The '67 Sound on Jun 17, 2010 7:59 AM EDT up reply actions
I remember asking Eyebleaf when we were in MTL who he would like to see drafted.
He didn’t hesitate ‘Kadri’
Obviously at that point I didn’t know much about him, but Eye was quick to fill me in.
While everyone else (almost) was waiting for Burke to move up and grab someone 4 or 5 (Baby Schenn was mentioned over and over), Eye was so ecstatic when Burke picked Kadri.
I hope that Kadri is amazing, not just for the sake of the Toronto Maple Leafs but also for the guy that will be happier than anyone else on this forum.
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."
Albert Einstein
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jun 16, 2010 5:27 PM EDT reply actions
I remember lots of drought beer and Wrap’s death wail when the Sens picked Cowen
My Fan Base Can Beat Up Your Fan Base
by JaredFromLondon on Jun 16, 2010 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions
After seeing his ‘development’ I think Wrap will even agree it is better we didn’t get him.
Still, I can’t help but wonder how he would have done with another team, any other team.
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."
Albert Einstein
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jun 16, 2010 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions
?
he played for the Spokane Chiefs this year.
I doubt he would’ve been any better had he been drafted by some other team.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jun 16, 2010 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions
He was at their development camp and from the reports I read he wasn’t impressive.
Also – he had a pretty poor season with the Chiefs this year, from what I understand.
Being drafted by the Senators might have seriously depressed this kid.
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."
Albert Einstein
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jun 16, 2010 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions
I guess
now that Hossa has won a Cup, he has some hope because he knows it is possible for a Sens draft pick to win one… just not as a Senator
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."
Albert Einstein
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jun 16, 2010 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions
honestly
I find it kinda pathetic that a kid would let his play slip depending on which team drafted him.
Even making it to the NHL should be a great accomplishment.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jun 16, 2010 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions
tongue in cheek, Karina.
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."
Albert Einstein
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jun 17, 2010 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions
but didn’t you hear? he is the next chara!
My Fan Base Can Beat Up Your Fan Base
by JaredFromLondon on Jun 16, 2010 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions
You mean eventually the Sens will let him go so they can sign another defenseman who sucks and then he’ll become dominant?
by Mirinov's Nose on Jun 16, 2010 8:37 PM EDT up reply actions
I voted him a 3. He looked completely lost in his one game. However aren’t we supposed to be rating people who played a significant amount of games
October 25, 1966. Thank you Lord Kelvin
It’s a silly poll. Get silly!
Sons of '67: A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jun 16, 2010 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions
er…wut?
My Fan Base Can Beat Up Your Fan Base
by JaredFromLondon on Jun 16, 2010 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions
what’s confusing you?
October 25, 1966. Thank you Lord Kelvin
by Chuck Diesel on Jun 16, 2010 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions
how does he get a 3? thats what I don’t get, how did he not meet your expectations (5 means met expectations)
his OHL season, his playoffs, his WJC play factor in at all? or is this just all on the one NHL game he came into as an emergency call up against one of the best teams in the NHL?
My Fan Base Can Beat Up Your Fan Base
by JaredFromLondon on Jun 16, 2010 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah I expected him to do something. He did nothing. My vote isn’t off. Perhaps my expectations were. It’s only based on his 1 game as a Leaf not the rest. In the OHL he exceeded my expectations since I knew nothing about him previously so I’m very happy we have an OHL superstar coming through.
October 25, 1966. Thank you Lord Kelvin
by Chuck Diesel on Jun 16, 2010 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions
i think burke should trade kadri for belak. i miss belak more than any other leaf that has left town in the last 5 years.
by gnarlybattleship on Jun 16, 2010 6:14 PM EDT reply actions
.
My Fan Base Can Beat Up Your Fan Base
by JaredFromLondon on Jun 16, 2010 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions
...
My Fan Base Can Beat Up Your Fan Base
by JaredFromLondon on Jun 16, 2010 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions
my favourite maple leaf goal of all time
by gnarlybattleship on Jun 16, 2010 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Belak, Bell and Kilger. What a line.
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Jun 17, 2010 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions
I miss Belak too
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Jun 16, 2010 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Is that the kid you want?
because that’s the kid we’re taking. KADRI!!!!1
A Nation of Masochists
1967 - Owning the drought since 2010
Oh hey maple leafs first round pick
So as a Blues fan I gotta question how long till you guys are ready to give up on him. We are rolling 3 scoring lines this year and have an open spot.
He raged at the world, at his family, at his life. But mostly he just raged.
Just because Jay McClement is the best defensive forward in the NHL doesn't mean he should win the Selke.
Ouch. Why you gotta cut so deep.
Totally unrelated, do you have anymore Stempniak clones? ‘Cause I really think that’s what our team is lacking.
Sons of '67: A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Jun 16, 2010 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions
we’re leaving that one up to Kypreos
My Fan Base Can Beat Up Your Fan Base
by JaredFromLondon on Jun 16, 2010 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions
LOL
I assume ‘scoring’ refers to their off-ice activities.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
by PPP on Jun 16, 2010 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
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