Kadri Sizzle in Saskatoon Chill

SASKATOON--Too early to tell if Nazem Kadri will ever be a Maple Leaf regular, let alone a star.

But after watching the young centre play four games at this year's world junior championships, three against also-ran competition and one against a surprisingly fast and strong U.S. team, this much seems true.

In terms of pure skill and creativity, he made stand alone in the history of Leaf draftees.

Now, cynics will say that doesn't mean a whole lot given the club's drafting history, one dotted with a long list of, for example, big lumbering defencemen. 

But Kadri is, it's fair to say, what Brandon Convery was supposed to be when Cliff Fletcher drafted him in '92. Shifty, imaginative and fast.

Darryl Sittler was bigger, more of a power forward. Lanny McDonald was a straight sniper. Russ Courtnall was a speedster. Gary Leeman was a versatile player who had one golden year. Wendel Clark was a power forward with a booming wrist shot. Brad Boyes, traded before he ever developed, also was a shooter, not a playmarker.

Kadri is part playmaker, part sniper, and with an attitude. His throat slashing gesture earlier this week against Switzerland was strictly bush, but the kid's got loads of personality to go with his talent, and he doesn't mind taking the odd run at an opponent.

In terms of personality, not style, he's a little like a smaller version of Ryan Getzlaf. Or a noisier version of Daymond Langkow.

There will be nights when he maddens the fans by not getting enough done, but it seems likely there will also be nights when he'll make the crowd go "oooooh." His juicy shootout move against the U.S. on Thursday night was a thing of beauty, a clutch exhibition of skill at a big moment.

Team Canada head coach Willie Desjardins obviously thinks enough of Kadri to play him alongside Taylor Hall on the second line, and then with Halll, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Ellis and Alex Pietrangelo on the No. 1 power play unit.

Leaf fans worried about the two first rounders sacrificed for Phil Kessel and convinced Brian Burke is headed down the same draft-schmaft path as so many of his predecessors would do well not to forget that Kadri is showing signs of developing into a top six NHL forward.

It's still to early to tell, and how Kadri performs in the remainder of Canada's games - either a semi and a gold medal game or a semi and a bronze game - will provide a little more information.

But if you look at Leaf drafting history, he's unique.

 

Comments

[Butch Cummings]

Ya the trouble Last night was Desjardins did not know who the hell to put on the Ice, he lost his bench , i ask you how many shifts did Stephan Delarovere play after scoring the 1st goal.

How in hell did he get to be coach of that Junior Squad, he never won the game the players won the Game that they were totally outclassed outskated in and any other areas including not playing Dellarovere and other players he went with his horses but forgot to feed them.

[DamienCox]

Damien here. . .just to help out Butch Cummings. . .you can rip on Desjardins if you want, but the fact is Della Rovere was actually promoted to the No. 2 line with Kadri and Hall against the Americans and will probably play there on Sunday. He wasn't benched. Hope that helps.

[jose]

Looks like youre trying to under hype Kadri. I dont blame you, but its ok to be enthusiastic. Kadri is gonna be the best player in franchise history.

[Simon in London]

Damien, thanx for the writeup and if I may I can add a little. I have watched Naz for almost four years and a few games as a Junior Knight coming up thru the alliance that is Junior Knights. When you say he is not pure sniper, playmaker or power forward I agree kind of. He is more snipe though and is deadly from anywhere around the circle. He should make Toronto next season but the pressure will be intense from that fan base. He is used to playing on a big stage ( JLC almost 10,000) and has played in every big event possible. I think he sticks next year and scores 20 in his first year. He has better hands than Kessel in tight area's and is bulking up finally. Now if Toronto could package Schenn with someone else and land a top five lotto...Hall & Seguin your on your way.

[chris mccuen]

Can you immagine, a player with skill and personality playing in Toronto, let alone be drafted by them? This is a very good thing!

[Sandy T.]

I can imagine a player with skill and personality playing in Toronto; I can even imagine that player being drafted by them, but I've also been around long enough to know such a player could also get booed out of town by the denizens of the ACC before having a chance to fully develop. It's happened before - or almost happened - more than once throughout the last 4 decades.

[Guido]

How about Darcy Tucker with skill?