The Kadri Konundrum
It seems to be a common theme in Toronto: A hot shot young player turns some heads in pre-season or is heralded by management as a saviour, and the fan base divides down the middle. Should he stay or should he go (back to junior)? From Luke Richardson, Jeff Ware, Nik Antropov and more recently, Luke Schenn, a parade of opinions is trotted out on what should happen. The latest target of discussion is young Nazem Kadri.
Those names I just mentioned have had varying levels of success. Let’s take a closer look at two of them. Pre-season 1998 saw the surprise 10th overall pick Nik Antropov make a strong showing. Antropov played his way onto the team and quickly showed why he was taken 10th. He had great hands and stood at a very tall 6 foot 6. Unfortunately, his body hadn’t filled out his frame yet and it could be argued that the punishment of the NHL grind can be directly or indirectly blamed for 3 fairly major injuries that surely hampered his development as an NHL player. Had Antropov been sent to an OHL team or back to Russia for further development, perhaps he doesn’t suffer those injuries. It’s hindsight in which we’ll never know the result.
Luke Schenn forced his way on to the 2008/2009 Maple Leaf team with his filled out body, strong defensive presence and ultimately, the lack of many other options. The defense corp behind Kaberle, Kubina and Finger was very suspect last year. Schenn was able to soak up over 20 minutes a night without being a liability. However, was his offensive development hampered by playing against superior oppenents and icing very little powerplay time?
As it pertains to this pre-season, Kadri has certainly demonstrated that he is not out of place playing with NHL veterans. In the same respect, he hasn’t been a standout against them either. He has, however, been one of the better players so far for the Leafs. Although, pre-season is not the barometer you use to measure a player’s calibre of play. Kadri could end up being very ordinary in the regular season and that can quickly turn into a confidence killer, especially for a player who thrives on point production such as Kadri.
The time and space afforded an attacker in the NHL is very small compared to the likes of major junior. Quick decisions and a willingness to make the smart play rather than the flashy one is of paramount importance. These attributes conspire against greenhorn rookies since many of them have a penchant for making an extra move or a flashy toe-drag that can quickly turn into a counterattack going the other way. A younger developing player can head back to junior and work on many aspects of his game that the fast paced NHL just doesn’t afford them.
In contrast, if a player can demonstrate that he is capable of playing against NHL competition with ice time that won’t detract from development, then certainly a case can be made for keeping that young player around. Kadri so far, against pre-season competition, has proven he can.
By design, the CBA has an entry for the nine game tryout. A rookie can play up to nine games without it having affect his contract status as it pertains to free-agency. As such, I personally feel that given the way Kadri has played and barring a disastrous showing this coming weekend, Kadri should be given an audition of sorts playing against regular season NHL competition. After which, unless he is Crosby/Ovechkin/Lemieux/Gretzky type spectacular, he should head back to the London Knights where he can score 100+ pts and lead Team Canada to another World Junior Championship in December.
So perhaps this isn’t so much a conundrum for me. However, I’m not the one making the decisions. Last year, Ron Wilson kept Schenn around and it worked out pretty well. Perhaps Brian Burke and Wilson will repeat and keep Kadri. We will find out soon enough.
Author’s Note: As an addendum, I submit that the likelihood of a 9-game tryout is made more difficult by the CBA requirement that teams have a 23-man roster on October 1st. So if a 9-game tryout were to happen, Toronto would have to use a 2-way contract and send them to the minors to make room, or hope another player clears waivers up and down.
September 25th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
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September 25th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
@ TT – Same idea I was thinking, but…..
Forwards
In – 1st. Grabovski (Kessel/Hagman) 2nd. Kadri (Poni/Blake) 3rd. Bozak (Stally/Hanson) 4th.J.Mitchell (Primeau/Orr or Rosehill)
Out – Tlusty, Kulemin, Mayers, Stemps, Wallin and Stajan.
Defensemen
In – 1st. Kabs/Komi 2nd. FB/Schenn 3rd.White/Gunnarsson or Exelby
Out – VanRyn, Finger and Frogren
Goalies
In – Tosk, Monster and Joey Mac.
Out – Reimer
September 25th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
@captain morgan
my mom had to whoop it into me.
@lescott
question?
September 25th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
@mumblar
Did you take that as a slight? It wsn’t meant that way!!
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Clarification required, but no worries. it’s all good
September 25th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
@mumblar
When I called you bud…sorry, I don’t watch South Park often.
September 25th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
@lescott
The great thing about hockey is that two people can watch the same stuff and formulate different opinions.
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Kadri certainly has shown an impressive set of hands and flair, but his defensive play hasn’t be spectactular. As well, he has been easily moved off the puck when a body is put on him. This will only get worse as NHL defenders learn how to play against him.
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As far as clutch goes, I just can’t label any situation in pre-season as clutch. I understand what you are saying. Kadri did score that final minute goal to push the game into overtime and then scored a very pretty shootout goal, but just as Kadri is being sent over the boards in those situations, opposing coaches are sending out players that wouldn’t normally play in those situations as well.
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I would also contend that Kadri hasn’t been the best forward so far. That honour, for me, would go to Hagman (with the limited time) or Bozak for his excellent offensive presence and 2-way play.
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Maple Leaf fans always tend to look through rose coloured glasses at their hot shot rookies. It something I try very hard to look at objectively instead of with emotion. My emotions want to see Kadri now, my mind knows that it’s best to wait.
September 25th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
@honesthockey – I dunno ask Ron Wilson… this is not my choices here, this is what I predict Ron Wilson will do. I am putting out questions for discussion. Realistic ones, b/c this is how RW sees it.
PS. where are you getting your pre-season stats from, having a hard time finding this info.
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Mitchell would/does look good on the wing. I can see him centering a line with Hanson and Stalberg one day, tho. Would be a good, big line that could score.
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Caught the SP ref.
September 25th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
@Brad Stowe
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My apologies my man i try and compliment the writer first but the comments sucked me in.
Good write up enjoyed your views on Kadri.
Plus i dont get to see the word Konundrum enough in my life so i thank-you for that.
September 25th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
@Brad Stowe – agreed.
September 25th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
@Brad
I enjoyed the article too.
One thing that you brought up is the space that is small in the NHL versus more room in the OHL…this is one thing that Kadri needs to learn and adapt to…do you think it would be a wiser choice for him to play in the NHL and get used to that fact and adapt to it this year, which would make him an even stronger player next year?
September 25th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Wow, the Wings are icing a very good line-up this evening, this will be a good test for a lot of the young guys. Should be interesting.
September 25th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
@ mumbular CBS has fairly good preseason stats
September 25th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
i hope gustavsson is ready
he wants to be number 1
hes got 20 minutes tonight to show us why
September 25th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Brad, I know it’s not the cup finals… but this kid is out there with someting to prove, he’s given heavy responsibilities relative to the situation and he has come through more than anyone — aside from, maybe, Hagman. Notice who Hagman is usually playing with when he makes things happen though? Kadri. Kid generates or finds space and adds some speed and cleverness that opens up the opposition. Maybe I am looking through rose-coloured glasses, and Kadri also had the benefit of playing in the rookie tournament and doing well there as well, maybe that also influences my opinion of him.
September 25th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Aside from the points that Kadri did put up he nearly put up twice as many, where pucks went off posts or wingers missed tap-ins. But you may be right about his defensive play, that’s a subtler art that doesn’t get replayed on highlight reels.
September 25th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
@captain morgan
That’s a question I did contemplate as I wrote the article. Would learning to play the style of game the NHL affords now instead of a year from now, help his development? Would staying in the NHL hurt his development? If it does, how much?
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In the end, you have to go the route that will afford Kadri the greatest level of success. I am of the belief that come the regular season, Kadri would quickly find out he’s overmatched at his current level of ability. I believe he is far from his peak. Confidence and trust in your abilities is something that cannot be under estimated. They can be fickle attributes that can easily turn against you when you enter a slump.
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I think, as I stated originally, that another year in the OHL learning to work more diligently on other aspects of his game would be more beneficial than an extra year learning the NHL, fighting for time on the 2nd line where his confidence could take a hit.
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Let’s not forget, this year Brian Burke has made it very clear that he intends to make the playoffs. Players won’t be given the space and time they need to develop in the NHL as they did last year, especially with the Marlies stocked with players looking to crack the NHL (our NCAA players), or return to it in the case of veterans who don’t make it of camp.
September 25th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
hagman kadri kessel
stalberg bozak hanson
blake wallin mitchell
orr primeau rosehill
thats my lineup for next year
this year
all 4 of those kids will start in the minors
September 25th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
all 5 including rosehill**
September 25th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
@lescott
Kadri has been good… I know. But a little perspective, Mitchell and Hagman have the same amount of goals and assists and Kadri, however, Kadri has 5 games while Mitchell and Hagman have played 4 and 3 respectively. This of course, doesn’t factor in time on the ice, strength of opposition, or strength of linemates either. Kadri has played a tonne of time, in all situations. That’s precisely what exhibition is for. It’s awesome to see the talent that’s there, and will eventually patrol our first line.
September 25th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
@Brad Stowe
he wont concede his point its best to agree to disagree with Lescot.
September 25th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
@Brad
I agree that the confidence in your abilities and the need for playing time are important for him to continue to grow and improve….he does need to fill out more and his defensive game does need work, but I’m not sure that going back to junior will provide him with the opportunities to better himself in those areas either, as they will have him being the offensive weapon for the team. It is a total catch 22.
September 25th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Lack of space in the NHL + the size of some of the players he’ll face = receipe for injury.
No rush…let ‘em play junior.
September 25th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
I’m saying that he has played the game better than anyone else thus far, and while that is highly contentious, he has shown glimpses consistently that other players would be hard pressed to replicate. Now I may be wrong, but it’s a very subjective point. I’m also saying that he could play this year with significant success, most seem to side with what Wilson is saying about sending him down to the OHL though.
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Maybe Kadri would be better served with a year of junior, maybe not. At the same time there are games to be played and maybe he’ll play outstanding maybe he’ll prove you correct.
September 25th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
I’m trying to be diplomatic here, Ed, I’m not saying that he absolutle should play this year, I simply think that he’s more than capable of it.
September 25th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
absolutely…
September 25th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
we lose absolutely nothing if we send him down
NOTHING
u can say he will help our team
but is he really good enough to be the difference between us making and missing the playoffs
i really dont think so
although i love the kid and his skill and his heart and his play thus far.. he belongs in the ohl
1 more year of development in london a world junior and 20 lbs will do wonders for him
and hell be that much more eager to step into the lineup next year
September 25th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Luke Schenn, then why didn’t we send Luke down last year?
September 25th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
@honesthockey
for the love of god for someone with the name honesthockey your comparing kadri and stajan??? and in the preseason to make matters worse… kadri is one dimentional right now hes on the ice to score and hes only put in situations to put up points its not a knock against him hes played extremly well in camp and will be a great player here and a better player so far than almost all of the other players picked ahead of him based soley on there training camps but he needs to grow whereas stajan is huge threat to teams he flys under the radar and hes used in every situation imaginable pp pk regular strength and does quite well for that reason hes bound to have a diffrent type of plus minus and is considered a second line player stop underevalutating him looking at plus minus…. hes our version of chris drury plays great two way hockey excellent leader and doesnt score those flashing goals but puts numbers up there what more do you want??
as for tlusty someone brought up the picture thing and that was a great point tlusty seemed like he had a very timid personality when he was drafted so that picture thing couldve really slowed him i dont think it will in any way hinder is future performance i think he needs time to mature so he can really grab the ice time he is given and be confident he can make something happen hes only twenty he may not be there yet but he will do well a great example is bobby ryan at one point people mocked anahiem relentlessly because he was drafted behind crosby and really wasnt dominating… but he played a full year around the time he was tlustys age and absolutly dominated he came up and has really made his mark… he doesnt deserve a spot right now because he hasnt found his game here yet but who knows he might light it up with grabs and kulemin now that he has experience with that line. one other question i have about tlusty though is do you think anyone has/is treating him differently because of those pictures such as team or opponents? this could also make him a timid player and stop him from feeling comfortable and playing his game here at the nhl level.
September 25th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
sorry for lack of grammer and spacing lol that was more of a rant
September 25th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
I personaly think he should stay , and maybe that wrong but he has shown more to me the some of the vets have and thats ok with me too, let the kids that can play , play and sit the vets ,
September 26th, 2009 at 12:05 am
well the game was a great one for the young players and we have a bright future , the leafs I mean,, looking forward to the season start, go leafs go
November 10th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
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