Kadri discussion thread after his 30th goal - now featuring 60 points!

[Mugzy97]

Remember last year when he lead our team with 45 points?

 

[theIceWookie]

Remember last year when he lead our team with 45 points?

And his 17 goals that he had last year were his worst goal totals in his career?

I love how someone suggested he's not a legit top 6 threat lololol

 

[1specter]

And his 17 goals that he had last year were his worst goal totals in his career?

I love how someone suggested he's not a legit top 6 threat lololol

Had he not been suspended, he might've hit 20, he was scoring at a pretty high pace to close out the season.

 

[Menzinger]

James Mirtle is a source. Published a few pieces on it and his transformation in the Globe and Mail. Eg:

"Nazem Kadri – once the Leafs' most promising prospect – is also attempting to put off-ice issues behind him, including a partying problem that was tied to a three-game suspension for missing a practice back in March."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/spor...-will-sit-for-two-more-games/article23403257/

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/spor...ues-and-second-chances-first/article26449029/

And this nice piece about his transformation:

"Seven years in, Kadri has become a unique piece that finally fits with what the Leafs are building."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/spor...afs-surprising-shutdown-star/article32715816/

I think most folks would agree (based on what we know at least) he's matured in terms of his overall concentration on the team/game - it's just that in terms of on ice play the stats really don't show a drastic difference in terms of impact.

Regardless this is a silly argument. At this point folks should just be happy the team has a great core piece locked up on a great contract.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I think most folks would agree (based on what we know at least) he's matured in terms of his overall concentration on the team/game - it's just that in terms of on ice play the stats really don't show a drastic difference in terms of impact.

Regardless this is a silly argument. At this point folks should just be happy the team has a great core piece locked up on a great contract.

Well put IMO. Not just the stats but the eye test too. Kadri's always been a good player, one who has an edge to his game and plays hard much more frequently than most of his teammates over the years. It's also a testament to his character IMO that he's managed to thrive in this town despite all the adversity he's faced. Off the ice we may never know what the issues were but on the ice Kadri's always been a good player. Now that he has a better team around him his point totals are up too, just like some us have been predicting for years now. I'm just really happy that this finally happened, for a time there it looked like it never would.

 

[LeafingTheWay]

Yup... I feel like 30 is his ceiling. Glad to see him overachieving a bit this year but I won't be disappointed when he scores around 20 and 50 point next year given his role on the team and cap hit. He's the perfect 2/3 C to play behind Matthews and eventually Nylander. I also think giving him the captaincy would be a smart move by management. He's paid his dues and been around long enough to deserve it and he's also the type of guy that would embrace the role and would raise his game to prove he deserves the title. Let Matthews/Marner/Nylander develop without the added stress of wearing a letter.

Yeah his PP goal stats are kinda high for him. His oish% (the goals scored on his PP unit) are susitanable at 15% but his own sh% is at 33% which is 7th in the league, he may keep that up but I highly doubt that.

As 1specter said below, I expect him to make up for it with a rise in assists but we'll see. I'd like for him to be captain too but we'll see how it goes, if anything I think it'll be up to Rielly/Matthews/Marner/Kadri for the long-term captain role.

Could see his assists rise as the team continues to improve and he continues to get better talent to play with, which would offset the decrease in goals a bit. 60 pts seems doable

I can see that too. In between the 50 an 60ish point mark is doable for him, especially when he gets one of Marner/Nylander/Kappy/Bracco/Timashov/etc on his wing for a full-season. But I was just letting everyone know about those PP stats, just in case someone says next year 'Kadri is disappointing' because his goal stats aren't as high as this year (He'll probably hit 33-34 this year)

 

[LeafingTheWay]

While I love the excitement for Naz, I do find it quite funny that he has excelled offensively twice as a Leaf and both times were in a 'third line' role.
He's ideally a 2/3 C guy who appears to be developing a pretty good two way game.

He's on the 1st line...
There is literally zero evidence to suggest otherwise, unless you count opinions as evidence.

 

[4thline]

While I love the excitement for Naz, I do find it quite funny that he has excelled offensively twice as a Leaf and both times were in a 'third line' role.
He's ideally a 2/3 C guy who appears to be developing a pretty good two way game.

Lol.

The first time it was the "3rd" line because it was sheltered
This time it's the "3rd" line because it's the most trusted defensively.

If next year Matthews assumes the mantle of matchup C and we shelter Nylander does the balanced usage line with Kadri become the "3rd" line?

 

[stickty111]

Since when did someone who is used as a 1B centre, plays against top lines and scores 30 goals and could reach 60 points, not a top 6 player?
Clearly Kadri and every other expert that works with the NHL didnt get the memo.

 

[stickty111]

Hard to take you seriously after this gem. BTW, I think you're in the wrong thread - see the thread title.

Congrats again Nazem.

Yup! Easily a top 6 talent and has continued to shine in it. He had his try out and showed he may be a 1st line talent! Forming opinions based on plus minus and what rookies are doing and determining if a player is a top 6 talent based on that is silly.
We have 6 players who are top 6 material. Some are better than others. Kadri, Bozak, Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Nylander. Sorry but Kadri has showed like in previous seasons he is a top 6 NHL player

 

[Barilko14]

When he has the opportunity to, so MNM can be matched up against weaker opposition. Other teams don't view his line as being one of the top 2 threats. They've always played the MNM lines the hardest. When it's an away game, he's rarely facing the top 4 D on the opposing team.

Home team advantage gives the coach the chance to see what the other team is putting on the ice first, and he can adjust his plan accordingly. Burning Kadri's line against the opposition's 2nd D pair, and giving one of his top two lines a chance against weaker D, gives a better chance of his team scoring a goal.

Lastly, he's not top 6 if 3 rookies are out-scoring him, while he possesses the worst plus/minus rating out of any forward on the team. He's great in the role that he's in, but someone making $4.5M after getting a shot at being on the top line the previous season, shows he's not top 6. He had is tryout, he couldn't make it happen.

He's 14th in the league in goal scoring.

Yeah, he's not a Top 6 forward

 

[The Apologist]

Lol.

The first time it was the "3rd" line because it was sheltered
This time it's the "3rd" line because it's the most trusted defensively.

If next year Matthews assumes the mantle of matchup C and we shelter Nylander does the balanced usage line with Kadri become the "3rd" line?

Dont play it like Im downgrading him. There is nothing wrong with the role he's playing. The traditional '3rd line' role in the NHL is used to shut down the other team's top line. Kadri does that well while producing extremely well for the role.
HOWEVER, when the other team uses their shutdown guys against him he tends to struggle.

Regarding your other suggestion, IMHO, most other teams would probably still try to get their shutdown guys out against Mathews making him the defacto 1c anyway.

 

[stickty111]

Dont play it like Im downgrading him. There is nothing wrong with the role he's playing. The traditional '3rd line' role in the NHL is used to shut down the other team's top line. Kadri does that well while producing extremely well for the role.
HOWEVER, when the other team uses their shutdown guys against him he tends to struggle.

Regarding your other suggestion, IMHO, most other teams would probably still try to get their shutdown guys out against Mathews making him the defacto 1c anyway.

That doesnt mean Kadri isnt a top 6 player. Kadri is a top 6 player and has played like one and being played like one

 

[The Apologist]

That doesnt mean Kadri isnt a top 6 player. Kadri is a top 6 player and has played like one and being played like one

Never said he wasnt.

 

[Bluelines]

Lol.

The first time it was the "3rd" line because it was sheltered
This time it's the "3rd" line because it's the most trusted defensively.

If next year Matthews assumes the mantle of matchup C and we shelter Nylander does the balanced usage line with Kadri become the "3rd" line?

Depends what team Kadri is playing for.

 

[Bluelines]

Since when did someone who is used as a 1B centre, plays against top lines and scores 30 goals and could reach 60 points, not a top 6 player?
Clearly Kadri and every other expert that works with the NHL didnt get the memo.

Ya already got an example where sometime's things aren't what they appear to be, Kulie scored 30 goals, he played a checking role but did that did make him a top line winger?

Hey full credit to Naz for maximizing the opportunities Babcock has put him in. Babcock said hey Naz, this is your sandbox and I'll make sure you succeed if you do as I tell you to do...and he did, Naz is a great ASSET for us.

Looking forward to the draft this year.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Naz has matured, settled things down, and he's a better player for it.
He's part of core here, present and future

 

[stickty111]

Naz has matured, settled things down, and he's a better player for it.
He's part of core here, present and future

Yup. Its crazy that we have potentially a 1A, 1B, 1C situation in terms of centres if Kadri can keep his level of play up in future seasons, and Nylander shifts over to centre smoothly.

 

[LeafingTheWay]

Bergeron, Kesler, Kopitar ... players that play on the 3rd line apparently.

 

[Raymoondo]

Definitely solidified his position as an NHL player this year, may even be willing to concede that he's a bottom 6 player now.

 

[The Apologist]

Bergeron, Kesler, Kopitar ... players that play on the 3rd line apparently.

Great argument. Well thought out.
Thanks for coming.

 

[Bluelines]

Yup. Its crazy that we have potentially a 1A, 1B, 1C situation in terms of centres if Kadri can keep his level of play up in future seasons, and Nylander shifts over to centre smoothly.

Maybe in 2 to 3 years if he ever learns how to play defence at the NHL level. Right now, he has no business anywhere near a center role.

 

[LeafingTheWay]

Great argument.

What do you define as a player playing on the 1st line then, because simply saying he plays on the 3rd line is just as flawed as me saying Bergeron plays on the 3rd line.

There's literally zero reasoning behind saying he plays on the 3rd line.

 

[Simcoe23]

What do you define as a player playing on the 1st line then, because simply saying he plays on the 3rd line is just as flawed as me saying Bergeron plays on the 3rd line.

There's literally zero reasoning behind saying he plays on the 3rd line.

And add to that, the Kadri line generally plays against the other teams best (most potent offensive) line. Still scored 30- so far...

Proud to say I was one of the ones in here having his back all along. SO glad he's turned out this way and probably not a coincidence it happened when he got a coach that got his back.

Now if Leivo could just stick and stay healthy FFS. All that guy does is get points when hes in the line up.

 

[Bluelines]

What do you define as a player playing on the 1st line then, because simply saying he plays on the 3rd line is just as flawed as me saying Bergeron plays on the 3rd line.

There's literally zero reasoning behind saying he plays on the 3rd line.

Over the last 100 or so years the first line is usually defined as the line that generates the most offence, pretty much every standard or advance scoring stat, TOI, etc would have Matthews ahead of Kadri, making Matthews our true #1. Meaning Hyman is on our #1 line

Just to be clear that does not mean Kadri is bad because you are incorrect in your theory, just simply statistically he is not our #1 center.

From a traditional role , usually your best checking line is your 3rd line but I think those roles are blurred on this team. I think one could argue that having Kadri checking the 1st line might ****** his production, he may well have more goals if he was deployed the way a typical 1st line is deployed.