Daisy you have to understand to factor in comparables & inflation not to mention retaining a trade asset when talking contracts not just Kadri but Bernier as well. In the trade thread you referenced that you wouldn't give any more than the league 10% raise.
You seem like a down to earth person so let me explain something to you both Kadri & Bernier have arbitration rights. You low ball them both if they have an agent with the players best interest in mind they will take the Leafs to arbitration and when you factor the above both have a strong case to winning the case which in fact not only gives the player the salary they want but a 1 year term with UFA status coming there way early. I get that people are emotional right now and think everything this team has is crap and not worth it but that's when you make mistakes when your emotional.
Take a look around the league what 50 point center's get? You may think 4million on a 5 years is too much but even that is low on market value today. 2nd line and 2nd pair players is a 5+5 year club today. To get Kadri signed to a contract less than that it should have happen the first go around instead of the "bridge". Every time a team go's bridge the term contract will only go up the next go around which is why I personally don't like them at all.
Bridge contracts IMO is something to be honest only benefits contending teams that are tight with the cap, going for it and need to find some bargain of a type to keep the teams depth intact. RFA status on young guys is what allows contending teams to "Bridge" knowing full well that the next go around trades will need to be made either in someone else or this player you've "Bridged".
When your a team in transition my money is to pay on potential rather than pay for UFA's. There's never bargains in UFA's status. The best bet for fair and good long term deals is to skip the "Bridge" and negotiate a fair termed contract. One that is more incline toward where a player is currently at that allows you maintain as a trade asset if things don't go as plan Team wise. After all we are dealing with human beings so there's always the possibility of things not working out but still it's smarter money to pay for potential rather than chase UFA IMO.
In case you haven't noticed UFA status both in re-signing are own or chasing others mainly others is where just about all the mistakes both Burke and Nonis have made. They refuse to commit to the younger guys to put more on there plate and that keeps costing them. Just keep that in mind