The Kadri Question

Clearly, the Leafs are trying to light a fire under Nazem Kadri.

Nothing wrong with that.

If the kid's not ready, he's not ready, and that doesn't mean he's not going to be ready. That he might not be at the stage today where he's ready to step into the NHL and be a front line centre isn't a reflection of his ability or desire. It might be a reflection of his maturity and ability to understand what it takes to be an NHLer, and that's going to come with age.

Moreover, if he starts the season with the AHL Marlies, or even finishes it with them, that's no great insult. Under Dallas Eakins, he'd play as a No. 1 centre, play in all situations, and continue to grow into the bigger body he's been asked to develop.

All this said, the Leafs are rather mystified with the former No. 1 pick these days, both in the quality of his play and what they perceive to be his attitude. Not that it's bad, just that Kadri seems to give off the vibe that he's already in the bigs and is a veteran who just needs to have his game in order by the Oct. 7th.

It's the fight against entitlement Brian Burke and Ron Wilson believe they've been fighting, and partiy its because top prospects are annointed status in Toronto by the media before they earn it. Luke Schenn was heralded as a can't miss stud because he made the Leafs as an 18-year-old, and now, in his third year, he's hoping to get good minutes as a fifth or sixth D-man, with stardom a long way off yet.

The entitlement issue is one reason why the Marlies can be such a useful tool for the Leafs, one that was used successfully last season with Carl Gunnarson, Tyler Bozak, Christian Hanson and Viktor Stalberg.

Nothing wrong with making these guys understand there's a road to travel to the big leagues, and it won't always come with room service.

All this said, Kadri has three or four games over the next week to demonstrate that he has received the message from Burke and Wilson loud and clear. There's still a role there for him. If the Leafs were to draw it up, they'd probably like to go with Bozak, Kadri, Grabovski and Hanson down the middle. But Kadri has to earn the spot, or it may go by default to John Mitchell. Or, the Leafs may have to go out and find a body, which will make the task of getting to the NHL a little tougher for Kadri.

So his chance is here. Now. Time for lift-off, son.

 

 

Comments

[Jani7]

I hope the Leafs don't ruin Kadri like I fear they have with Schenn. Luke should have been dominating in JR 2 years ago instead of learning just how to survive in the NHL as a 4th or 5th Dman. Being the 5th overall draft pick, Schenn should be rounding into a stud #1 or 2 Dman.
Let Kadri develop in JR or AHL into the #1 C the Leafs need him to become.
Please don't ruin another young guy!

[Stu]

One of the issues with his attitude could have to do with the fact that Burke was saying months ago that he'd already been penciled in until about the 20 game mark. That's not the impression you want to give a young player who needs to work on his game quite a bit before he's NHL ready. But it's understandable why he would feel like he'd made the team before training camp. When the GM says you've got a roster spot months before training camp begins, it makes sense that he would think he has a roster spot.

[Sam]

One would think having a frank conversation with the kid about attitude, dedication and hard work would be the ideal way of building him into the player they want and need. I've been somewhat puzzled by the daily updates that appear on how Kadri might not make the team.
Let the kid play - Management should manage behind close doors not through the media. The amount of ink being spilled to write about this kid makes you wish for a good old Tomas Kaberle story. . . .

[Conn Smythe]

'I hope the Leafs don't ruin Kadri like I fear they have with Schenn. Luke should have been dominating in JR 2 years ago instead of learning just how to survive in the NHL as a 4th or 5th Dman.' How was Schenn 'ruined' when he was on the All - Rookie team after his first year? Although he did falter a bit in his 2nd year (not entirely surprising) his play did rebound in the 2nd half of the season. Kadri does not need to go back to junior (why?) but he definitely should start the season with the Marlies.

[Chad]

too much pressure on a kid who's only 19/20 years old. the average 19/20 year old in this country is still in college or university, completely drowning in OSAP debt. and when they graduate most of them go off and travel europe for an entire summer.
but not this kid. no way. he's supposed to be our saving grace no. 1 centre, make millions of dollars, and bring us the cup. no pressure though....

[SOB]

Kadri probably thinks that the Leafs have sucked for long long that anybody can make the team. He probably figures he should be an automatic to make the team. If we wants to fast track his way onto the squad, all he needs to do is getting into a bunch of fights. That would be enough to impress Burke and Wilson.

[Moe Green]

I understand there is a huge photo of Kadri in the media room at ACC. Isn't that exactly the wrong message to send a budding star - that he already is one. Who is to blame for that and the off-season comments? If it's not Burke then he has to talk to whomever is responsible. IMO they want Kadri to land with the Marlies this fall anyway. He certainly isn't gonna increase Leafs' gate receipts but a hungry wanna be star is surely gonna pad those Marlie gates nicely. Injuries notwithstanding, I can't see Kadri with the big club until he's at least made a impact with the Marlies attendance. It just doesn't make financial sense to an organization that thinks of little else.

[Billybobtw]

Kadri hasn't shown he belongs on the Marlies. No hits, little to no backchecking, even less forechecking, no goals excepting a shootout goal. I wonder why be bothers even coming to the rink. He looks lost in his own end. Not an NHL calibre player now and there is very little reason to suspect he ever will be one.

[Sweetscribe]

It's not entitlement that really is the problem with Kadri. It's his 19-year old naivety that is intricately entwined with his positive personality. There's no harm in that at his age and will serve him well when his reality check arrives later this week when he's shipped to the Marlies.
All that free pub about his wonderful supportive family seems a bit premature now doesn't it? Some advice: Let the kid actually MAKE the team before you put even more pressure on him by splashing feel-good stories of his family all over the media.

Sweetscribe

[No]

Not that article is negative, exactly; just that it was written by Damien Cox so what can we expect right? "That's no great insult"...

[Nev]

Damien: given the leafs are one injury at center from a big problem on the top two lines why wouldn't they offer UFA Brendan Morrison a contract? Cheap insurance at about 1M that could step in for either Bozak or Grabbo and play third line minutes. Your thoughts?

[Bobby]

Interesting situation. Very harsh comments coming from the Leaf's Brass dripping with disappointments and an openly critical message to Kadri in front of the Media. They trying to crush the Kid's confidence or light a fire? Big gamble with their top prospect. I would think that most GMs would be privately critical and publicly supportive. Reading between the lines it almost seems as though they are trying to kill a bad attitude (thought he was a leader) and send a message to the rest of the team that no favorites are being coddled. I would be surprised if he didn't make the team despite the tough posturing by Burke.

[Ankur]

First amazing move the leafs will have done with a prospect in 20 years. The kid is not ready, and they shouldn't rush him. Look at Scheen, 2 years gone from his entry level contract and he should of stayed in the O and let his game develop like Tyler Myers of the Sabers who won the rookie of the year. He did not help the leafs at all over the last two years and didnt develop as a top 5 draft pick either. Amazing how the media turns the story, if they put him in, they say he was rushed, and if they dont, its means hes not a good enough prospect. Relax, at the end of the day, Burke screwed up with the Kesell trade, instead of having two top three draft picks 2009 and 2010,this leaf team has no chance of getting any franchise players in the next 4-5 years competing for the 7 or 8th final playoff spot in the east. And No Franchise player means no Cup no matter how go they get.

[Geoff Read]

Agreed that the kid could stand with some seasoning in the AHL, and there's nothing wrong with that. On the other hand... if your top prospect can't beat out John Mitchell or Mikhail Grabovski for a roster spot he isn't going to be the second coming of Sidney Crosby.

[dan]

The Leafs first and foremeost must ice a team that will win as many games as possible. That is what Leaf coaching & management will be judged by. It is not their role to nurture and devolpe a prospects hockey talent. Kadri must bring the drive and determination to the rink himself. If he does he will succeed and if he is truly talented beyond all others then he will be a star- maybe - some day.

[Nev]

Dear Mr Burke and Mr. Wilson: Can you please both stop playing this Kahdri thing out in the media? It's one thing if the kid shoots his mouth off and thinks he's better than he is. You might recall being 19 yourself and believing you're the second coming - its what we all did at 19. Its another thing if management responds scolding him publicly by telling him just how far away he is layering even more pressure on. Take some accountability yourselves. TO management put him on the Belza Bulk Up program over the summer. Looks like that thick layer of muscle and weight has inadvertently found its way between hands and brain and at 19 that's also not surprising. Send him to the Marlies and stop the side show. Agree with poster Bobby here. Ground him and take away his x-box privately but support the kid and his development publicly.

[j-rock]

He's 19 years-old. How many prospects come straight from junior and begin to contribute in any meaningful way at the NHL level? I don't think that Kadri is a Crosby or Ovechkin, but he's a (very) good player. All he needs is some time playing against bigger, faster and stronger men than the boys he dominated in junior. The defensive game can take a while to develop for players who come up as scorers. Not that he was irresponsible defensively as a young man, but keep in mind that Stevie Y. didn't turn into a defensive specialist until he was about 30. While I am in no way comparing a completely unproven prospect to one of the all-time greats, my point is that there is plenty of time for Kadri's game to develop and evolve. Being better than most of the kids he's played against for all of his life, there have likely been elements of his game that he's been able to ignore, and mistakes that he's been able to compensate for with sheer skill. That's not going to be the case anymore, and for the life of me, I don't understand how sending a teenager to the AHL can possibly mark him as a bust. The Toronto fans and media are doing that thing that we always do. Let's just give this kid some time, and maybe space to grow. If he's not in the starting line-up opening night, it's not the end of the world. It's not even a bad thing, as long as he takes the right lessons from the "demotion", and works hard to get his act together.

[Rabydun]

I found out all I needed to know about what type of entitled brat Kadri is at a celebrity charity dinner last year. A young girl with cerebral palsy was giving a speech on her life experience and the whole time Kadri sat slouched in his chair at the head table, eyes rolled at the ceiling or texting on his phone... wishing he was anywhere but there. I almost felt like walking up there and turning his nose inside out myself. He is in serious need of an attitude adjustment.

[Jackmac]

I don't agree that the Marlies are a "useful tool" for the Leafs. When an entitled brat like Kadri gets sent down, it should be to Podunk City for a dose of reality -no nightlife, no media, no adoring fans and long bus rides- not staying in Toronto.

[Dave Grein]

Bang on Damien. the kid just has some growing up to do...

[Wayne]

He is ruined already. Burke blew it. This is a next to last place team. Put him on the team and shut up. Picking on him serves no purpose. I wonder if Tyler is glad he was drafted by the Bruins instead of the Leafs. Quick, name an all-star that was drafted by the Leafs (and became and all star as a leaf) aside from Wendal?

[nick]

Jackman, what makes Kadri an entitled brat? Because he's - as another poster said - naively optimistic? What 19 year old isn't? I don't think he's really showed any sense of entitlement at all. He's showed enthusiasm and he's showed that he has a positive attitude. Sure, he's slacked off a bit and he hasn't displayed the dogged work ethic ML brass and the public wants to see. But whoa, get this! Teenagers ACTUALLY underestimate how much hard work is needed to achieve their goal and sometimes get lazy! Can you believe it? I know, It's entirely shocking to me too! Cox is bang on. Lay off the kid. AHL isn't a demotion or punishment. It's a necessary step. Kind of like doing your undergrad before you do a PHD.