Post-Mortem: Leafs Draft Kadri

After all the hype surrounding a potential trade up proved for naught, Brian Burke went with a surprise pick in centerman Nazem Kadri at #7. The fact of the matter is that first-rounders are as cherished as ever and Burke was going to have to overpay to make anything happen in the top 5.

Was it fair to expect Burke to pull off something magical tonight? No, but it’s his own fault if he gets flamed for what happened or rather what didn’t. His uninhibited self-promotion these last few months set the expectations high and he came up empty. Nazem Kadri deserves his fair shake and for all intents and purposes seems a promising top 6 prospect. But it’s time for a little more action and a little less talk on Burke’s part, or at least a lot less talk if there isn’t going to be more action.

EJ McGuire describes Kadri:

“He’s big, lanky and skilled. He uses his size to accentuate his puck skills. Size, reach, stick handling ability, those long kinds of stick movements that Mario (Lemieux) used to make, like (Vincent) Lecavalier makes.”

He has the potential to become the pure offensive talent the Leafs have sorely lacked since Alex Mogilny, but there are definitely some consistency concerns with the London Knight. His stock grew in the lead up to the draft as he often outperformed linemate Tavares during the late stages of the season and playoffs, but he hasn’t manifested that level of effectiveness over significant durations of his junior career. I’m not sure he’s the prototypical Burke pick exactly, but the scouting staff was impressed with his intensity and his capability as a two-way player. Size-wise, he’ll own a decent frame when he fills out. He is also an adept penalty killer, having led the OHL in shorthanded points this past season. I’m sure we’ll see size and toughness drafted in excess tomorrow.

The pick followed a very interesting exchange between Burke and Murray where Burke checked in with the Sens GM to see if Kadri was Murray’s desired pick and then told Murray he was picking him upon hearing it was. And when Burke turned to aware his cohorts that they were picking and not trading down,  there was look of disbelief on Nonis’ face. One could almost infer that the pick was made out of spite. Couple this with the apparent “done deal” with the Bruins for Kaberle that fell through due to an alleged bizarre miscommunication, this was the strangest of days that didn’t exactly go according to script as one could decipher from Burke’s seething as the Kings drafted Brayden Schenn. Burke’s since claimed in interviews that Kadri has been the scouting staff’s pick of the litter all along at #7 and that he was attempting to move up without sacrificing the seventh pick so that the Leafs could still secure Kadri’s services. However, Burke won’t escape this draft without a fair share of question marks being thrown his way.

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  • glgbill

    Not unhappy with the pick, but I do think it was a panic choice. I hope it works out, but this really says it all…

    “…it’s time for a little more action and a little less talk on Burke’s part, or at least a lot less talk if there isn’t going to be more action.”

    He came up short at the trade deadline, by the expectations he created for himself, and he came up short again today. Tomorrow is another day, of course. But Burke has been a disappointment so far, as measured by the expectations he has created. Talk is cheap. So maybe it’s time to stop talking. It doesn’t seem like the other GMs are listening anyway.

  • BBP

    Well given Burke/Nonis 1st round draft history, let’s let this play out before we pass judgement:

    99′ – D. Sedin
    99′ – H. Sedin
    01′ – R.J. Umberger
    03′ – R. Kesler
    04′ – C. Schneider
    Burke 05′ – B. Ryan
    Nonis 05′ – L. Bourdon

    7 of their 8 first round picks have turned out to be pretty good players with the exception of Nathan Smith in 2000.

  • Potvin29

    I think all of us leaf fans were expecting more due to Burkes own self prophesies.
    Look back at the rebuilding clubs in the past and you have Ovie, Crosby, Malkin, Stamkos, Tavares.
    When you consistantly pick at 7 or 8 or have no pick at all it is a long road with no star potential. Being a Leaf supporter for over 40 years its tough to watch another draft go by with no substance. Not that I think 1rst overall was attainable or Kadri is a bad pick but when you continue to be middle of the pack in the draft its a long road to just make the playoffs, not alone a Stanley Cup.I think we would all like to have an impact player (Sittler, Clark), a leader. One who will take this team on his back and deliver a product on the ice that we can call our own and be proud of once again. I don’t think Kadri is the answer. Until this team completley tanks and we can get a player of substance we are missing the boat. Schenn( the younger) I beleive would have been one of those pieces, that next leader of the blue and white in the mold of Mike Richards. An Identity.

  • Marvin

    Wow, some people are definitely on crack in terms of what they expected. Suddenly Burke is worse than JFJ because he actually picked at his position. I agree with people who say that Kadri is not a bad pick at all, lots of potential there. I am 100% sure Burke explored all available options to move up and refused to be lowballed – I’m also 100% sure he’s not done and some movement is on the way, so keep your underpants unknotted for now.

  • goleafsgo

    seriously wtf is with all you a-holes complaining about kadri the kid is going to be one hell of a player. apart from the fact he grew up hating the leafs, this kid has so much upside it is not funny. wait until he fills out and gets a little bit of experience he has talent to burn.
    GO LEAFS GO KADRI.

  • jordan

    @CFJ
    K, first off, fuck you and you sound like an idiot the way you post. I could care less what you think because I’m right. I’m a little dissapointed BECAUSE there’s a lot of second guessing with this kid. His religion fasts from eating sometimes all day (not sure the exact details) and nobody can play hockey without energy. He hogs the puck sometimes, he might not have as much passion because he did grow up hating the leafs, and most of all he just doesn’t excite me the way a guy like Schenn or Kane would. If he works out great but if not we could have wasted a years pick. I would have moved down and grabbed Cowen and whatever I got from the Sens. Our team needs more defensive prospects right now!
    And if you don’t like what I put you can go die if you like, or something but just don’t tell me about

  • Yama

    People are double B>>>>>>>>>>>>WHY
    Would you trade your 7th pick and Luke schene to get the number 2 pick?
    Would you trade Kabele and Schenne to get to number two pick?
    That was the only deal TB would accept.
    Why would Brian Burk do this dea, it will set us behine at least for another 2 years, just because we want a top 3 player in this years draft.
    I dont blam people for being mad at burke for all the drama and I personally was expecting a big night from him because of all the media staff going on. but AFter being mad a little, I undrestand what Doube B did.
    I dont know much about our draft pick up He seems like a good two way centre.
    I dont get the Leaf Fan, They dont know what they are talking about, and yes Burke is RIght in his interview, Leaf fans are not the greatest fans..this is the reason they change their mind just because they didnt get 1 of 3 big guns.

    Anyways I am a Die Hard Leaf fan and will always be and support Brian Burks decisions.

    I have a feeling today will be interesting for Brian Burk.
    Go leafs go, go burkeee.

  • Yama

    People are blaming double B>>>>>>>>>>>>WHY
    Would you trade your 7th pick and Luke schenne to get the number 2 pick?
    Would you trade Kaberle and Schenne to get to number two pick?
    That was the only deal TB would accept.
    Why would Brian Burk do this deal, it will set us behind at least for another 2 years, just because we want a top 3 player in this years draft.
    I dont blam people for being mad at burke for all the drama, I personally was expecting a big night from him because of all the media staff going on. but AFter being mad a little, I undrestand what Doube B did.
    I dont know much about our draft pick, He seems like a good two way centre.
    I dont get the Leaf Fan, They dont know what they are talking about, and yes Burke is RIght in his interview, Leaf fans are not the greatest fans..this is the reason they change their mind just because they didnt get 1 of 3 big guns.

    Anyways I am a Die Hard Leaf fan and will always be and support Brian Burks decisions.

    I have a feeling today will be interesting dayfor Brian Burk.
    Go leafs go, go burkeee.

  • paso

    @milfr-things MLHS reported-
    1-kaberle for kessel-trade didnt happen but was on table-this site reported it days before the media announced it
    2-this site reported holmgren would make a desperate move-lupul and 3 first rounders for pronger-fleecing
    3-Svensson was almost a consensus pick if Burke couldnt move up-MLHS predicted they would not take him-and they didnt
    4-rumor is there was a deal with Atlanta in place but Waddell balked at the last minute-thats why Burke was so frustrated when Schenn was selected-this site reported that deal
    5-This site flatly stated when the kessel deal arose that Burke would not include a pick as well-he didnt and thats what killed the deal
    6-this site reported there was no deal with the wild in the works when most major media outlets were-its now confirmed that there was never any talk with the wild

    know your facts. cheers

  • bluebuds

    Mouth breathers, shhhhh!

    Some of the best moves are the ones you do not make. Burke did a great job and you know what I think cox and berger are right (puked in my mouth a bit, thanks) many in Leafs nation have no idea what it means to be patient with a real re-build. This is how its done folks, we’ve never been in a situation like this so like Burke said, it gonna take time. By all these dumb comments, you come off sounding like you think that after a draft the team’s fortune would turn around all of a sudden. Ya right! with the exception of Headman and Tavavers, I don’t know who else would be playing in the NHL at a 100% certainly next season so you all need to take a step back. We are rebuilding, its not nice its not fun and there are growing pains, use your heads folks!

  • bluebuds

    And by the way, no way Burke wanted to trade away that 7th pick because they believed that Kardi was the sleeper and under no circumstances were they going to trade him away, hence why he wanted nothing to do with Murray because Burke was smart enough to know that Murray wanted him too and knew Kardi is the real deal.

    We got a bunch of prospects and FA coming up. The rebuild is coming along perfectly. For those that don’t like how its coming along, well, there are 29 other teams you can be a “fan” of.

  • Chance

    Kadri was one point shy of tying Matt Duchene’s point total though very well could have been able to as he played one less game. For all the hype Duchene received I think Kadri was a bit of a sleeper in this years draft. Really stepped up his game in the post season as well. In sixteen games put up twenty one points. Duchene in six more games put up only five more points. Pretty solid guy. Seems like a genuine character type prospect as well.

  • leafswest

    Alex. Thanks for telling it the way you saw it. The body language on the floor on day #1 was very telling. As for the trade that wasn’t someone was lying and, for sure, TSN was being used.

  • CJF

    @ Jordan

    I sound like an idiot? You’re worried about the kid fasting…nuff said! Have a nice day

  • Andrew )

    Kadri is a really good pick and although I’m very dissapointed that we didn’t get Schenn, at least BB didn’t sell the future to get him. Sure he’s a blow hard but that’s nothing that other managers didn’t know already. His arrogance didn’t spoil the move up, the price was just too high. If you didn’t notice, there were no moves intil NYI and Min swapped picks in the 11 spot and let’s face it, the talent pool got a little shalower after 10.
    Brian will pull something off in the next couple of weeks. That’s where he holds all the cards with lots of cap room and a really good asset in Kaberle. Once J-Bo is off the market (and he might be already) teams will look long and hard at Kaberle. Good luck Burkie!

  • Jordan

    Fasting a full day, and you dont think that would affect your performance in a hockey game?

  • bluebuds

    Hey guys is there anyway to check on a hunch I have? I think the Leafs draft plan was as follows: 1. Trade with Islanders for #1, bare failing that which would of been known before the draft, move to acquire Schenn and retain 7th pick, picking Glennie (who btw was picked 8th overall), failing that pick Kardi at 7th as he’s the next best player available.

  • glenn

    i hope the free agentency will do us better than that draft……….burke was brought in to right the ship…i just hope he does not sink it………i would of taken kassian instead of kadri……….kassian is a brute….a power forward we could of used and he fights for his teammates.

  • Leafer_84

    Not a fan of this pick. Wouldn’t be surprised if Burke just did it out of spite…unfortunately the Sens got a better player than us so it kind of backfired.

  • Jordan

    You guys are stupid, Kadri has the offence of Duchene and is more top line potential then most in the draft other then Duchene, Kane and Tavares

  • WREGGET

    Did Burke even want Kadri??? I think he chose him just to spite Murray…

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