This is exactly what OP is talking about. You just trash him with all those things that are completely unwarranted.
-What has he done to earn the reputation of being selfish?
-Have you seen his defensive game with the Marlies and how much it has improved?
-Why don't you trash 90% of the offensively gifted kids that come into the NHL with flawed defensive games?
Facts:
-He's not small, he's average NHL size for his position, 6'0 and 185 lbs.
-He's much stronger on the puck than he used to be when he first came up, again like most rookies who have to adjust from playing against kids to playing against men.
-He is grittier than most players on the Leafs, and isn't afraid to throw the body. He had 4 hits in under 10 minutes of play against Montreal. If a player averages 4 hits per game, he likely leads the NHL in hits.
The problem is, you and many posters like you have these ignorant stubborn impressions that you refuse to adjust. If a guy happens to do something bad in the one game you pay attention, you will always point to that one bad example. Go take a look at how NHL prospects develop, it's a miracle Kadri is where he is today with all the negativity he's received.
You don't see this on any other team's forum, no other team has so many guys who continuously trash their best offensive prospect. Even guys with flaws are defended, to the point of blind homerism by their fans, except Kadri. Go to the Habs board and ask them why Lois Leblanc is where he is. Or to the Oilers board about MPS. Or to the Flyers board about Brayden Schenn. Or to the Islanders board about Neiderreiter. I could go on and on with examples. None of these guys are busts yet. And they will all support and defend their guys and tell you so.
I just can't wait until you and all the haters continue to eat crow.
I think that's the truest thing you've posted here and in truth where any criticism for one player or another stops in Leafs Nation.
It's a hypervigilant, hypercritical fan-base starving for success where a player is a saviour one night and a scapegoat the next.
Exampling Kadri as a player who when he's received criticism as something disproportionate to say...every goalie the Leafs have had since Ed Belfour, or every center the club has iced since Sundin, or every prospect selected since Wendel Clark, or every deal made since Kurvers was acquired, obscures the at times harsh reality for any player (See Matt Stajan) who does not explode onto the scene with game changing effect.
If people are going to continue that Kadri has been victimized, then the same people better quickly defend those in the media (Don Cherry, etc) and those here who, while part of Leafs Nation and who also characterize our fanbase, have been consistent in their defence of him.
And while it's convenient to cite other fanbases on a one for one sampling, it does nothing to equate the unparalleled support the Toronto Maple Leafs enjoy because of it's dedicated, sometimes myopic fans.
And if the "haters" of Leafs Nation who call themselves Leafs fans can't see the forest from the trees, than perhaps Carolina or Phoenix could use your player above team and fan base support.
It's the NHL, it's the Toronto Maple Leafs, love it or leave it, but "you" are not going to highjack it's name, it's great fans and it's good future to come because of some perceived political slight that is entirely contrived and delusional given the kind of support the player has actually had the priviledge to enjoy.
Personally I'm not opposed to a piercing discussion where merit demands it, but it's frivolous and indulgent to steer this player and his experience into areas that have actually endured true prejudice.
The implication here against Leafs Nation disgusts me. That's what I "hate" and every self-respecting Leafs fan should too.
