Food For Thought

So you could look at this in at least two ways.

Perhaps Nazem Kadri showed he's not only willing to be challenged, but can respond by playing better.

Or perhaps Brian Burke and Ron Wilson knew exactly what they were doing when they publicly criticized the 19-year-old centre.

While it may, by next week, mean nothing, Kadri certainly showed some maturity Wednesday night in Ottawa with a two-goal, one assist program. He didn't whine, he didn't complain, he didn't sulk. He played a good hockey game, albeit in an NHL exhibition, that at the very least means that if he starts the season with the AHL Marlies he went down with a bang.

The last few days, of course, have been a vivid illustration of the fact that there's nothing in hockey quite like being a first round pick of the Leafs.

Other teams send their first rounders to the minors, or juniors, and not a word is said. Nobody in Montreal is calling Jarred Tinordi a failure. In Vancouver, they'd have liked to have seen Jordan Schroeder make the big club, but that's a pretty good team. Ottawa's Jared Cowan doesn't look ready for NHL action, and he was taken two places after Kadri in the '09 draft. The No. 11 pick, Ryan Ellis, is already back in junior. Brayden Schenn, the fifth pick that year, may or may not make the L.A. Kings.

The Kadri story, on the other hand, was a soap opera at Leaf camp last year, and a bigger one this year. Last year, many were arguing he deserved to be in the NHL. This year, others have been suggesting he's just another blown pick by the Leafs. Lacking in both viewpoints is a modicum of perspective.

Players arrive and develop at different speeds. Some struggle, then take off. Some take off, then struggle. Anybody care to remember Lanny McDonald's 14-goal effort as a Leaf rookie more than a quarter-century ago? And he turned out okay.

After his strong effort against the Sens, of course, there will be those who say this proves he should crack the Leaf roster. Well, maybe that's true, and certainly he's done more in one game than John Mitchell has accomplished the entire pre-season.

But don't be shocked if Kadri still starts in the minors. The Burke administration, you see, doesn't look at sending a young player to the minors as insulting him. More to the point, regardless of this one game, there is still nothing wrong with Kadri proving himself in the AHL, then moving on to the NHL.

Then again, maybe the Leafs will keep him. Maybe, knowing their supposedly deep and talented defence and the goaltending tandem of J.S. Giguere and Jonas Gustavsson is likely going to average three goals against a night, the Leaf braintrust will figure they need all the offence they can get.

Kadri made his case Wednesday night. But he didn't sew up a spot. Then again, he may not yet be done making his case.

Comments

[Moe Green]

All hyperbole aside: Is their room for Kadri on the roster? I know this sounds like a stupid question but I caught a glimpse of Ron Wilson after the second Kadri goal last night and he was shaking his head. If he stays, who goes? Grabovski? Sjostrom? Does Kadri send a strong performance by Brent to the minors? Can Kadri even centre a strong checking line? Maybe this leaf team is better than we think but I really don't think there is room for Kadri on this team to start the season. Am I nuts?

[Nirbo]

Who are the folk commenting that Kadri is a bust? Certainly not any of the notable pundits in the blogosphere. Patience is the watchword among most Leafs fans I've read or talked to.
I guess with a fanbase as large as the Leafs' you can hand-pick poorly put-together opinions, but unlike, say, disappointment with John Ferguson Junior or Jeff Finger's contract, this one is not widespread.
Damien, you do not appear to be responding to a majority opinion here.

[Matto]

I spend a lot of time around hockey forums and comment sections and I really haven't seen any Leafs fans declaring Kadri a failure. This is media driven, pure and simple.

[Joe]

Who's whining about Kadri? THE MEDIA. I honestly don't care! AHL? Great! NHL? Terrific! I really don't care. I haven't heard anyone who does. It's the crazy, out of control media that brings it up, and then attributes the 'overreaction' and impatience to the fanbase. Man, give me a break. Give us a break. Nobody cares about Kadri except those people who turn over every rock for a story- and if they can't find one, they plant one themselves and claim it was already there and they had nothing to do with it. Put Kadri wherever the heck you want to put him and stop shoving words in our mouth. We COULD NOT CARE LESS.

[Scot Loucks]

Wow, three different papers/blogs and comments still have almost 20 percent in favour of keeping Kadri in the NHL. What is wrong with you people? No wonder the ROC laughs at Leaf Nation types.

Versteeg did his time in the AHL, Getlaf, Perry, Ryan, Spezza, Parise, St. Louis etc. etc. all did time in the AHL.

But like most idiot Leaf Nation types you want to put him in the spotlight and ruin his career as a 19 year old in the NHL. Did Joe Thornton a lot of good when Boston rushed him didn't it.

[Bobby]

I think that Wilson pretty much laid out the Kadri situation, you just have to read between the lines. He said Kadri played a good game but it was the body of work that he was focused on and Wilson has been openly critical of that. He then talked about players missing the bus and not diving in and then openly praised Tim Brent. Hello? Kadri is not making the team and neither is Mitchell. I think that Wilson committed to Brent before camp. I guess Tim Brent is doing special things on everybody elses TV sets because I don't see him as a standout performer on mine. I saw Caputti doing pretty decent things but not Brent. But oh yes, Brent was a Duck. Why is Brown making the team instead of Rosehil. Oh yeah its that Duck thing. Brent and Brown had spots before camp started. Too many decisions being made on friendships and not in the best interests of the team. Rosehill does more things on the ice to disrupt the other team than Brown will. Rosy puts the other team in another orbit of agitation and he is tougher and bigger than Brown. I guess the special qualities of Brown and Brent will become apparrent soon because my TV set isn't showing me much from these two.

[Unc Wilson]

Your paper has 3 stories in today about Kadri.
So just who is perpetuating this "soap opera" you speak of?

[al]

Kadri is a Hunter prepped player. He can score, he is prepared to handle the spotlight and he is capable. Put me in coach, I'm ready to play. Put two big stud defence on the ice every time he is on, and let him go. You can teach a kid to skate, check and play defence, but you can't teach 'em how to score. Give him a few games in the bigs, if he doesn't belong, send him down.

[Rob Wiersma]

I agree, we need to back off as fans and let the players develop and mature. The media also needs to take a step back and let the players develop and grow we do not need to know every little detail of what a player does or does not do . I prefer to see Kadri in the AHL for a year

[Robert]

The soap opera is created and directed by the Toronto Media. Kadri is not ready. He will not/cannot play an 82 game schedule. Emotionally he is not mature enough - as for representing the Muslim community, What! Do we break down the religious communities of all the players? He represents Nazim Kadri and that is all he does - perhaps a year or two in the AHL will give him a chance to mature outside the spot light and then he may be ready for the Maple Leaf circus. Not yet.

[Krakondack]

If with the Marlies, as center, to learn the position. If with the Leafs, as LW, because he looked really good there.

[Eric Weaver]

I feel Wilson has been throwing too much praise Grabovsky's way. His play last year was nothing to write home about. Even in the preseason, I have seen nothing much from him. I am inclined to say that kadri would score more than Grabovsky ,even in his rookie season. Wilson has to be the rudest coach. He puts down his own players in public all the time and the way he treats reporters is offensive. I can't wait till he's gone.

[Conn Smythe]

'Why is Brown making the team instead of Rosehil' Probably because in addition to being tough, Brown can skate, block shots and kill penalties. Rosehill (and I really like him) is as one dimensional as they come.

[ArrogantFansMediaExecutives]

The usual situation with Toronto's ridiculous media. Toronto Fans and Media live in a bubble fantasy world - and have absolutely NO CLUE about what real hockey is about. I'm from Toronto, and have watched this farse for 35 years. When somebody says I must be a Leaf fan, I just laugh and say, actually, I'm not. I say I like to follow teams which are professional from top to bottom, build from within (never giving up draft picks), and are consistent in their playoff outcomes. Torontonians live in a dream world and act as a dead-last race horse with blinders on. I've dreamed of one day seeing the Leafs win the Cup, but laughingly know that this will never happen because people from Toronto can never admit to the fact that their team, the media and their hockey SUCK. Kadri is another product who will never make it. Although the Leafs have been one of the worst professional teams in ANY sports league over the past 40 years, can anyone name a Hall of Famer that was picked by the Leafs during that period? 3 - Darryl, Lanny and Borje. Since then? What a joke of a team ! I don't know about you all, but I'm ashamed to be associated with the Leafs. You should all be ashamed. The current team, executives, decisions (two 1st rounders for Kessel !!?), media (same idiots year after year, saying the same things) and blind fans MUST CHANGE. Good luck over the next 40 years boys!