Yo-Yo Leaf

KELOWNA--Even out here on the west coast you can feel the frustration of Nazem Kadri and those who want him to be a Leaf.

This was supposed to be the time he came to say in the bigs, so his demotion to the Marlies on Wednesday along with defenceman Keith Aulie, ostensibly to make room for Colby Armstrong and John-Michael Liles to come off the injured list, came as a bit of a surprise.

But if you thought it meant GM Brian Burke has finally run out of patience with Kadri, you'd be wrong.

"Naz is going to be a good NHL player," said Burke in an email. "But young players need to bring urgency and energy to the game, and those components have tailed off.

"He's going to be just fine."

One point in 10 games just isn't the kind of production Kadri is going to need to stay in the NHL, and the solid 14 minutes he was getting every night alongside good offensive players provided ample opportunity to do more.

He's also at the stage of his career where he doesn't require waivers to go down, so when a veteran is healthy and ready to go, it's not surprising the youngster who isn't producing gets the boot.

This won't help Burke in his ongoing war with Don Cherry, as Cherry has been an unabashed supporter of keeping Kadri in the show. Might hear more about that Saturday night.

Those who would accuse Burke of refusing to give Kadri opportunity haven't been watching the games, and to a larger point, haven't noticed that over the years the Leafs have often been accused of rushing their youngsters and rarely credited with demanding their top prospects get the necessary minor-league lessons down before sticking in the NHL.

Still, nobody would be stunned if Kadri were the prospect to move if the Leafs pull the trigger on a deal. He's going to play in the NHL. The question is whether he's going to be able to play in Toronto for this coaching staff, or whether, as often happens with young players, he'll need a change of scenery before the light goes on.

That said, this is also true. Kadri still needs to acquire greater body strength through training, and the lack of that may be why his "urgency and energy" haven't been in recent days what they were when he was first recalled.

The team that gets him to realize that and spend more time in the gym will be the one that reaps the rewards of his undeniable skill and, as shown by his big hit Tuesday night, nose for a gritty style of game.

 

 

Comments

[gary a]

i agree with you on this Mr Cox..i believe that Nazem needs to get out of Toronto as much as i hate to say it but a change of scenery might do wonders for this kid.

[Mike]

I would like to know why Lombardi is still playing and Kadri is sent down. Producing about the same amount of points per game but at least Kadri is bigger and has a bit of a nasty streak...something you want on a third line.

[gary a]

Kadri got sent down cause he doesn't have to clear waivers and Lombardi does so it's easier to send him then lose Lombardi on waivers

[Kyle]

Lombardi is also great on the PK and is quicker than Kardi, two things Wilson appears to like

[me]

I would have sent Kadri back to the minors too. He's an okay player, nothing special, and hasn't proven enough to play in the NHL. If he doesn't like it, he can always ask for a trade. But, I don't think all that many teams would run to pick him up, when there is way better players available.

[Stephen Graham]

I don't think anyone who watched him objectively in the last few weeks can say that it was wrong to send him down. The guy's got talent but after a quick start he quickly tailed off. I think one of his biggest problems is that he's not strong enough. He seems to get pushed around a lot and that negates his offensive skills. Nobody said this would be easy.

[O'Malley]

Kadri just turned 21 in October, so he's still developing. To those who point to Crosby or Jeff Skinner as guys who could play in the bigs at 18 I say each players is different. Kadri's attitude at times worries me more than his development as a player, but I think he'll mature. The Leafs are handling him well. Giving him top-6 experience with the Marlies, with tastes of NHL-calibre action. Let him keep developing his game this year, maybe get him at Gary Roberts' off-season camp and see what he does at training camp next year.

[Sensi-Bill]

I think the Leafs should keep Kadri — and anyone else producing similar numbers — up with the big team for the rest of the season. But then that's because I cheer for an opponent of the Leafs. (just funnin' wit ya)