Here We Go Again

You'd think Ron Wilson would learn from the Luke Schenn experience.

Keeping teenagers in the NHL is a tricky business, fraught with peril. Yet there was Wilson yesterday essentially saying he wants Nazem Kadri on the Leaf roster next fall.

He didn't say Kadri must earn a roster position and beating out older more experienced players like Tyler Bozak, John Mitchell, Christian Hanson and Mikhail Grabovski.

He didn't say Kadri better be ready to fight for a spot. He didn't say what Leaf management believes, that Kadri better come to camp in superior condition and play well or he'll find himself back in London next fall.

It was Wilson who said Schenn was ready, and two years later you have a former fifth overall pick of uncertain value. Schenn never should have stayed in the NHL as an 18-year-old, but Wilson saw he was better than what he otherwise had.

That's why you don't let coaches make calls on teenagers. As coaches, they necessarily think short term.

If Kadri isn't forced to earn a position, you get right back into this circle of self-entitlement that the Leafs were supposed to be trying to exorcise from the organization.

Wilson's words put him in direct conflict with the front office, particularly when he now says he would have preferred to go with a much younger team last fall. He's second guessing Brian Burke and Co., and already setting the stage for next fall when, if the team doesn't do well, he can say he's doing the best he can with a 19-year-old at the No. 1 centre spot.

Kadri should only be a Leaf next fall if he's truly ready, and really, if Bozak and Hanson and Viktor Stalberg had to spend time in the minors this season, why couldn't Kadri spend another year in junior if that was best for his development.

Got a feeling this could be a tricky issue next fall.

Comments

[David]

Kadri won't make it unless he's ready. To be fair, Wilson's primary concern after training camp was his size and with this season's dirty hit epidemic, is it any wonder. Kadri'd get killed. Add 20 pounds to his forechecking and he'll be good to go.

[Big Mike]

More muck today, huh Cox? What should Wilson say? It goes without saying, he wants Kadri on the team next year and he would obviously have to earn that spot if he did make it. You could make the argument that Kadri played his way onto the team this year with the positive training camp he had. And I'm sure he has learned from the Schenn experience. Schenn had a solid rookie year, first half sophmore slump in his second, and finished the year off strong from the New Year on. It serves Kadri no purpose to go back to Junior, and the leafs quite honestly can't afford to slow his progress with no first round picks this year. Kadri should be on this team next year, provided he makes the neccessary strides in the offseason to play at the next level.

[Dave]

Or.... perhaps Wilson tells the media one thing, and the players another. What makes you (damien cox) think Wilson really tells you everything?? If I was coach and had read a few of your columns, I'd sure as hell start feeding you crap just to make you look foolish. I'd bet everything I have, that while Wilson told you guys (media) he wants Kadri on the team; both he and Burke have already told Kadri that they want him to show up to camp next fall in Tip Top shape, and prepared to work his ass off if he wants a shot at staying in the NHL. Don't believe for a second Damien that the informaiton you are given... is the whole story.

[Jamie]

Kadri is already a year behind because they made him sit in the CHL for the past year playing against inferior talent. Look at Steven Stamkos. Everyone said it was too early to bring him in last year, he was too young, too small. Instead, he gained all that experience last year, and came in to the league this year knowing what to expect and how an NHL season plays out. If he wasn't in the league last year, he wouldnt have the Rocket Richard trophy this year.

[Tom Mulvi]

My impression of Kadri (admittedly based on only a few TV hilites) is a skilled player with attitude all over him. Terms like entitlement & arrogance come to mind. I agree with Cox, make this young guy earn his spot. Playing for the Marlies doesn't look like that bad an option. Let's see what he is like when some adversity comes his way.

[Chuck Diesel]

There is no proof one way or the other that a year in the AHL does anything for a players development. I don't remember Crosby spending any time down there ditto for Ovechkin, Stamkos. Doughty etc. John Mitchell did though, that's taken him very far to his 8 goals. Schenn is an excellent player I don't see a problem there. Kadri tore up the juniors this year why shouldn't he have a shot at the NHL? Do you suggest Taylor Hall goes into the AHL? no of course you don't cuz he's not on the Leafs so you tend not to criticize. Bobby Ryan was put in the AHL for salary cap reasons so don't try to come back with that name. If your issue is confidence. OK you gain confidence in the AHL you come up to the NHL and get burned is your confidence suddenly immune to second guessing? no. If your argument is that he shouldn't be playing against men well that's futile too since the AHL is a rougher league with a lot more scraps. So I'm not really sure what your point is other than to pile it on the Leafs like you have done for your whole career.

[PJ Malone]

Please, fire Ron Wilson now before he does any more damage.

[Jamie]

Your article is pulling for smoke where there is no fire. Why must you keep trying to instill paranoia and hate amongst Leafs fans? First of all, Schenn is fine. He's had the ups and downs of ANY player entering the NHL will have, regardless if he's 19 or 29. Schenn will probably be better off for being in the NHL early, he made the All-Rookie Team, has gotten good ice time, progressed in his development, plays on the PK, he's got size and is in good shape. Kadri will in all likelihood make the Leafs next fall and... check this out.... he'll probably do fine! Most star players in the NHL today don't play out their junior eligibility or even spend time in the AHL anyways. Will Kadri be a star? Who knows, but the guy has put up absolutely fantastic stats in the OHL this year and progressively gotten better as the season went on. He has the makings of a star thus far, and if he makes the Leafs, why cry about it so long as he gets ice time, decent linemates and can produce a bit? Are you just gonna sit around and bash every move the team makes regardless of its outcome? Some things never change....

[Yeah Leafs]

the biggest problem the Leafs have is that both the coach and GM shoot their mouths off without thinking. Wilson is an idiot and Burke is a jerk so it's no surprise that the team is a bust.

[Randy]

"beating out older more experienced players like Tyler Bozak, John Mitchell, Christian Hanson and Mikhail Grabovski." You're nuts, any other team in the league and that much props wouldn't have be given to John Mitchell, Christian Hanson and Grabbo. His statement wasn't clear cut, the coach shouldn't have to tippy-toe around words anyways, of course Kadri is going to have to earn his spot but its pretty evident that he's going to.

[Andru]

Complete nonsense. Cox you're like every other idiot leaf fan that believes we should be trying to challenge for the cup next year.

Put the young players in and play them. Live with the good and bad times. Our goal next year should be to finish higher in the standings maybe 20th overall. Allow these young players to develop at the highest level. We're not Detroit, New Jersey, Chicago, or Pittsburgh with a team full of talent at the NHL level.

We're trying to win AND rebuild. it doesn't work that way. If we want to be Pittsburgh or Chicago. We have to suck and you have to make decisions based on the long term, not the short term.

if we leave Kadri in the minors it's to make room for

1) 'Endless Cycle never shoot" Grabovski,
2) 'Go wide all the time' Mitchell,
3) 'Dump the puck in the corner even on a break away' Hanson,
4) 'even though I'm fast as hell. I'll avoid going around the D' Stalberg.

We should act like we're building a franchise from scratch because in many ways we are.

[Pat Cashman]

I think Cox is wrong about Kadri. I would give him a a shot considering he looked good last September and another year in junior helped a lot. An extensive weight training in the summer could add 10 lbs and be the difference. You can't compare him to Schenn as Schenn was a lousy draft pick for a guy with way below average skills, a poor skater, a lousy shot and poor defensive skills. I would have traded Schenn while he still had value. Schenn made every defensive pairing he played with look bad as he couldn't cover his half of the ice. His penalty kill was terrible and his puck clearing absolutely atrocious. Schenn was an example of what not to draft. I wouldn't have let Schenn play in the third period at all, even less in the second period of a close game.

[takattack]

Considering Kadri proved he was capable to play last training camp and he only needed to bulk up to be an NHL regular, Ron's justified in saying he believes he will make the team. And the logic with Schenn doesn't make sense, he had a fantastic rookie season, are you saying that since he went through a sophomore slump that many before him have gone through that the Leafs should have returned him to minor hockey after a full season in the bigs in which he proved himself a top 4 defenseman? Ya, that would for SURE help his confidence and further his development.

[other mark]

I don't think Kadri will be ready next year. But I also agree with many of the other bloggers. Damien, your point about Shen isn't really a point. He's had a good season after a so-so start. Also, it's ludicrous to say that the Leafs have already annointed Kadri as a top 6 forward. He'll have to earn it if it happens; Brian Burke isn't about marketing spin (unlike previous GMs who were just shills and lackeys for Peddie and Co.).

[Pens_Leafs_fan]

Cox makes his point. The simple answer is to give him an opportunity at training camp and a few NHL games before deciding whether Kadri should be decided in the lineup.

[Scott C]

I agree the Schenn situation was a travesty, especially due to the fact that he, as an 18-year-old, was also called on to fight bigger, older players as the team was then lacking a true enforcer.

It's a testament to Schenn's makeup that didn't ruin him from the outset.

[Norm Platt.]

Bobby Ryan is a special player that took a little time in the AHL to get ready for the NHL. I cannot say with certainty that Kadri will have the same or similar success that Ryan has had thus far. Ryan became a dominant force in the AHL with the Portland Pirates and when he made the Ducks the following season it still took Ryan a while to find his feet. It would serve Kadri and the Leafs well to folllow a similar path with Kadri spending some time in the AHL to gain confidence and to acclimate to the pro life. The jump from junior to pro is huge and frankly there is no rush for a young player to get to the NHL. But I will say this: to improve in the NHL you have to play there because the hockey is so different compared to the AHL. Its faster, more skilled with every game played at a meaningful, purposeful pace. I would trust Wilson and Burke over Cox with their decisions on a premium prospect like Kadri.

[Don Steenson]

Mr. Cox--How come I didn't see you writing about keeping Stamkos in junior for another year? Is it because he doesn't play for Toronto? Iknow it is your job to stir the pot, but please, if the guy makes the team on merit, lay off him and just let him play and learn.

[Willy]

Mr. Cox, it sounds like you listened to a different interview than the rest of us, Wilson never guaranteed Kadri a position with the leafs, he did say he wants Kadri on the team, and that Kadri would be given every chance to make the team. Schenn had a great rookie season, he slipped thew first half of this one but rebounded later. I guess that you believe that Sydney Crosby should have spent a year or three in the minors. You are simply trying to stir things up, are you hoping to get some big story out of this?

[Hockey Fan]

Kadri will be the Leafs roster next year ONLY IF HE DESERVES TO BE. Burke and Wilson have worked to hard to rid this team of self-entitlement to start that again.

[Pat]

Maybe you forgot that Kadri was eligible to start this past season, and management sent him back to London. I agree that he should have to earn his position on the team, but he's a top level prospect and should be treated as such. I also don't agree with the Luke Schenn comments, he's never been an offensive presence, and people seem to judge him based on the one bad play he makes every now and then, when he makes 10 good defensive plays that go unnoticed. That's why he was drafted 5th overall, because he was a kickass defensive player in Kelowna, and he's a kickass defensive player in Toronto.