Nobody is placing him above the team. That's what you don't understand. People like you are the reason why fans here have a bad reputation, because you guys create controversies out of nothing. You keep saying things that aren't true.
Free pass? FREE PASS? Are you ****ing kidding me ULF? Do you even try anymore?
You know damn right Kadri has never gotten a free pass, from the day he was drafted. Everyone wanted MPS/Cowen if Brayden Schenn couldn't be had. Then people fabricate stories about his attitude issues and supposed 'issues' with coaches, yet Deboer, Hunter and Carlyle have all had positive things to say about him. Then at the World Juniors, he gets blamed for the U.S. OT goal, even though it was Pietrangelo who pinched up and chased after the puck in the offensive zone. Then Kadri doesn't tear it up at his second training camp, and he takes more heat from fans and media, including a ridiculous picture of him with a pacifier in his mouth on the Toronto Sun front page.
After playing very well in the AHL, he gets called up and does decently, only for Ronnie Wilson to throw him under the bus and say he has nasty habits even though he scored 2 assists and was one of the best forwards all game. Later on he gets yo-yo'd between the AHL and NHL, and is forced to play the wing even though he's clearly better at centre. The following training camp, he plays relatively well, but gets injured partway through, while everyone is gushing over Matt Frattin and saying how Frattin is apparently miles better than Kadri, with even Ronnie boy picking favourites. Kadri also adds mass like everyone wanted, but surprise surprise, his mobility is now hindered and he takes heat for that too of course. Finally, Rotten Ronnie is eventually fired, and Carlyle comes in and shows confidence in Kadri.
Oh and here comes the best part, Kadri works out with Roberts for the off-season, is noticeably stronger, leaner and faster, yet he's thrown under the bus for supposedly being fat and out of shape, which couldn't be further from the truth when his body fat had actually decreased from the prior year. After a slow start in the AHL, he tears it up and looks much faster and stronger on the ice, and it's clear that Roberts' training paid off. Of course, we all know what happened once the NHL season finally started again, and how he tore it up. But even then, he has detractors who say complain about him going cold at the end of the season and not dominating the playoffs, despite it being his first time actually sticking with the team for more than a few games.
And now this year, his first full season, he goes through a slump like any young player does yet gets blasted again and is subject to constant trade rumours from Darren Dreger, meanwhile linemate Joffrey Lupul is the one who ACTUALLY gets a free pass. And look, Kadri is producing now meanwhile Lupul is still not playing that well. Not to mention how Mason Raymond totally destroyed that line when he was on it.
As for the Kessel/JVR stuff, nobody said it was their 'fault'. A few people have criticized effort level, and to be honest the entire team minus the goalies and maybe Phaneuf were pretty damn underwhelming in that stretch during November and early December. Also, it's clear that Kadri simply doesn't have chemistry with both JVR and Kessel on his line. Kessel's stats are actually better with Kadri as his centre than anyone else, but it's a small sample size so I wouldn't put a whole lot of stock into it. However, JVR's production decreases. Watching the games, it was pretty damn obvious why. Kadri is the best possession player on the team, and he needs the puck on his stick...then you have Kessel who also needs the puck. When the two of them are together, JVR gets completely neutralized in the process, which is exactly what happened. Bozak fits better because he peels back and lets Kessel carry the puck and transition with JVR.
So yeah, please don't ever say 'free pass' ever again, it just shows that this fanbase really has no idea what the hell they are talking about. Any other team except maybe Montreal would be glad to have a 23 year old talented centre who has the 3rd highest PPG from his draft class only behind studs like Tavares and Duchene.
