Speed to Burn

MONTREAL

Instead of another defenceman, the Maple Leafs have gone for pizzazz up front.

The Leafs drafted London-born winger Nazem Kadri with the seventh overall pick in tonight's NHL draft, choosing not to take strapping blueliner Jared Cowan of Spokane.

With fans at Bell Centre derisively chanting "'67, '67!" and booing Leafs GM Brian Burke - who smiled - the Leafs went for the speedy Kadri after unsuccessfuly trying to move up in the draft.

The Leafs were expecting Cowan to go to Phoenix at No. 6, but the Coyotes - with fans chanting "Hamilton, Hamilton" - grabbed Swedish defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larson instead.

Kadri is a Muslim of Lebanese descent born and raised in London, Ontario.

Comments

[Lost In Alberta]

Under the circumstances, good choice. This team needs a speedy forward. Cowan was not the guy.

[Bill]

What a bunch of hot air from Burke

[Norman]

No Taveras, no Hedman, no Duschene, not even Braydon Schenn. And instead of Jared Cowan, Burke takes Kadri to spite Ottawa. He didn't even understand the Boston deal correctly. What's up with that? I'd say that, as expected, this year's draft has been a complete failure for Mr Hot Air and the Leafs.

[Willbur]

Typical Toronto BS. Yet another GM who talks a great game but in the end can't do anything at all. Burke was supposed to put his stamp on this team yet he has FAILED twice now, once at the trade deadline and now at the draft. Apparently, Burke beliefs that if he talks loud enough and makes enough outrageous comments, us Maple Leaf fans will overlook the fact that all he has done is a big fat nothing.

As for the draft pick, I wish the kid all the luck in the world but this has classic Maple Leaf written all over it. All these grand plans which fall apart and left with plan b. I smell a classic draft bust all over this pick.

[jgr]

He's a HABS FAN!!!!! BOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Abraggs]

Burke...you fail.

[JM]

No stats or scouting report on this player but you tell us he's Muslim. How is this relevant?

[Ken]

Wow, based on these comments, it proves that 90% of leaf fans are casual fans that don't follow the Jr Hockey system. Nazem Kadri was a London Knight and played on a line with John Tavares. He surprised many at the World Jr's this year, and was ranked far higher than even Schenn only a month ago...

This is a steal, don't let the Fantasy Ranks trick you. Burke has been playing up Schenn and company to ensure Kadri's ranking falls so he can snatch him as the 7th pick

[ballerz]

Having seen Kadri play in Kitchener for 2 years, I cannot understand how central scouting ranked him as a top 10 pick in this year's pre-season ranking. He's fast but he is a small perimeter player. His game is suited to junior and not the NHL, but you can hardly call him an elite OHLer.

[LOCKSTOCK93]

it had nothing to do with spiting Ottawa.

Burke and Murray had discussions about a trade. When the Leafs(#7) spot came up, Burke had a player that they wanted among those who hadn't been taken. That player was the same one that the sens wanted. If the leafs had wanted a different player, say Ryan Ellis, they would(might) have traded with the Sens so the Sens could move up and draft Kadri.

He didn't draft Kadri to spite the Sens, he did despite them.

[steve]

A garbage pick. A puny skinney coward goalsucking forward.

[Al Cleverdon]

This 42 year mess will take time to fix.I was worried BB was going to continue the "lets-try-and-get-there-now" syndrome and I was very happy to see him not make any deals that he felt would be detrimental to the long term success of the team.Making a trade just for the sake of making a trade makes no sense.He seems to be taking a thoughtful approach to all of this and he has assets he will move during the summer but he wants to maximize the return.Have patience.I've been a fan for 52 years and I know it will take a several years.If these deals were as easy as many of you seem to think they are, we'd all be NHL GM's.

[Chris]

As usual most of the many moronic sheep in maple leaf fanland have come out in full force to derisively roll out the carpet for a young man who they know nothing about. Kadri is very talented and already happens to be the most talented offensive player in the entire Leafs organization. Also, anyone who has seen him play at all is aware of the fact that his game elevates with the stakes. This is a character trait, not something that can be taught and it often trumps skill, of which this kid has tons. One day soon a number of you haters are going to overpay for your Kadri jerseys and I'm going look back at your negativity of today and smile. Welcome to the family, Nazem.

[BurkeEpicFail]

A lot of Leaf fans are steamed with the choice of Kadri.

And some assume it is because it is due to his background. Not so.

Here are a number of reasons Leaf fans are pissed:

First, MSP the big Swedish winger was incredibly still available and most people assumed Burke would take the best player available. The guy is big and tall and can skate and goes to the net. If you're going for a skill guy go for one that's big and can skate.

Kadri looks like much more of a project and much less mature at this stage than MSP. The Leafs are good at picking small or avg sized centers that amount to nothing. ie Convery.

He doesn't have much of an intense look (Leaf fans are serious after so many bad years) and seems like a real Maple Leaf dice throw, much moreso than MSP. Leaf fans wanted someone they can sink their teeth into. Passing MSP leaves a bad taste in their mouth, especially because they felt like they got stymied earlier on and had a top European forward land in their lap.

It would not have hurt their chances at signing The Swedish Monster in net if they signed a Swede, btw.

If not MSP, then Kaberle should have been sent with the first for Brayden Schenn. Kaberle is not going to fetch much. And I think we'll see exactly how little this is, when he gets traded. He should have been used to help get a stud forward, instead of this project, which I consider burning a draft choice. As usual.

Is Kaberle going to fetch a top young forward? If not, and I say unlikely, then the trade rejected by Burke will prove to be a massive mistake. What is Kabs going to get us? A first and a second next year? NEXT year. We could have had a good player this year - one that we wanted. Judging by Boston's offer of an injured young player and the request for a Leaf 1st rounder for Kaberle, the Leaf D's value is not that high. Sad but true.

I bet the Leafs don't sign the Monster and we have a really, really long summer. Sad to say, as well. Burke could have done better.

Burke - epic fail.

[Al C.]

There is nothing wrong with drafting a Hunter mentored player. See Perry,Nash,Mason,Bolland, Gagne etc, etc, etc. The Hunters get these kids ready to play in the show.Having had the pleasure of watching Kadri on a regular basis, if he can handle the spotlight that is T.O, he will be just fine.

[Patrick]

Passing on Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson will haunt us for years. An elite skater who likes to drive to the net and blessed with a great shot. He was rated as the #2 European prospect and predicted by many to be selected as high as the 5 or 6 spot. Seems like a no-brainer to me ??? What does Burke do...picks the #15 North American prospect with the 7th overall pick.

[BurkeEpicFail]

I still can't believe Burke picked another soft, pint-sized popgun for his offense to join little Matty Stajan, 'My Little' Pony, Blake, Hagman, Cool-Lemon, Stempniak, et al. And it hasn't been so long since softie Alex Steen was sent packing either. This is a team of unskilled softballs, Burke.

So, the Leafs absolutely had to select size and skill up front. And big, fast MSP was there for the taking!

And they went for a 167 pounder with a questionable attitude; he looks like a partier and a 'player' - and I don't mean hockey; and this guy has no hockey history in his family!

I think we may have re-drafted the resurrection of Brandon Convery.

Echhh,

[Ryan]

Man these other comments are BS... Kadri is a great selection, and will be a great addition in the years to come. I can't wait to see all of these "Leafs" fans flip flop like usual when Kadri leads the Team in goals. Leafs Fans are Top-Notch critics, but don't follow Hockey. Just news paper articles and sport center highlights. If you "Hockey Fans" made it out to a few OHL games you could have seen Kadri's big open ice hits, or his highlight reel goals...

It makes me sad that Being a Leafs fan i get flopped into the same group as the rest of you fools.

GO LEAFS GO... and being on the 4 more years of Rebuilding!

[Conn Smythe]

'And they went for a 167 pounder with a questionable attitude; he looks like a partier and a 'player' - and I don't mean hockey; and this guy has no hockey history in his family!'

Hands down, one of the most moronic posts to date. Kadri looks like a 'partier and a player'? Are you for real?

Norman - Burke didn't understand the Boston deal correctly? Man, good thing you were and knew all the intricate details to let us know.

[BurkeEpicFail]

Yeah. Don't ever criticize Leafs' drafting, heh. After all, they are the best team in the league when it comes to the draft!

[Conn Smythe]

Um, BurkeEpicFail (ya, there's an objective handle if I've ever seen one) there's criticism and then there are moronic comments.

Your post isn't about criticism of the Leafs drafting record - if it was, why would Kadri's 'looks' have anything to do with him being a good pick or not?

Good try, though.