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Where is Kadri and what's going on with his development?

Corn Flake said:
Kadri is playing like a man on fire in this round of the playoffs.  I think he's doing a fine job of starting to shake the "suspect" tag.  When players elevate their game in the post season like this, it's a huge thing. 

D'Amigo as well is making a strong case he isn't a suspect either.

Kadri doesn't turn 22 until October.  To me, he has always seemed a little immature, both on the ice and off. 

What I have noticed is he has progressively matured both on and off the ice.  Just watching him in interviews you can see he has grown up a lot since he was drafted.

Kadri to me seems a little more of a late bloomer.
 
Guru Tugginmypuddah said:
Kadri doesn't turn 22 until October.  To me, he has always seemed a little immature, both on the ice and off. 

What I have noticed is he has progressively matured both on and off the ice.  Just watching him in interviews you can see he has grown up a lot since he was drafted.

Kadri to me seems a little more of a late bloomer.

I've made the observations too though I haven't heard any interviews from him in quite some time. Good to hear he's waking up a bit here - though I'm not sure a kid his age was expected to a great deal sooner.   
 
Sarge said:
Guru Tugginmypuddah said:
Kadri doesn't turn 22 until October.  To me, he has always seemed a little immature, both on the ice and off. 

What I have noticed is he has progressively matured both on and off the ice.  Just watching him in interviews you can see he has grown up a lot since he was drafted.

Kadri to me seems a little more of a late bloomer.

I've made the observations too though I haven't heard any interviews from him in quite some time. Good to hear he's waking up a bit here - though I'm not sure a kid his age was expected to a great deal sooner. 

Interview with Nazem after yesterdays game;
http://video.mapleleafs.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=446&id=176565&cmpid=embed-share-video

I'm not saying there is something wrong with Nazem.  I'm just saying giving him time to grow up in his own time seems all he really needs. 
 
Guru Tugginmypuddah said:
Sarge said:
Guru Tugginmypuddah said:
Kadri doesn't turn 22 until October.  To me, he has always seemed a little immature, both on the ice and off. 

What I have noticed is he has progressively matured both on and off the ice.  Just watching him in interviews you can see he has grown up a lot since he was drafted.

Kadri to me seems a little more of a late bloomer.

I've made the observations too though I haven't heard any interviews from him in quite some time. Good to hear he's waking up a bit here - though I'm not sure a kid his age was expected to a great deal sooner. 

Interview with Nazem after yesterdays game;
http://video.mapleleafs.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=446&id=176565&cmpid=embed-share-video

I'm not saying there is something wrong with Nazem.  I'm just saying giving him time to grow up in his own time seems all he really needs.

Thanks. Yeah, he certainly seemed a lot less goofy (for want of better word) there than I've seen him in the past.
 
After seeing the Leafs wreck solid prospects in the 80's by rushing them I have almost been angry at how they are being treated again.  There seems to be very few fans or even management who take into account individual personality, physical maturity, etc when proclaiming the future status of a prospect.

Komisarek is a similar player to Schenn but [sarcasm]because I guess neither the AHL or CHL have ever developed NHL talent [/sarcasm], management left Schenn to struggle/be overwhelmed in Toronto.

Kadri was obviously immature in attitude and physically but the insane pressure to have him as star player has been ridiculous.  Especially with the number of Leaf players signed until the end of this year by Burke.  Both Kadri and Colborne could spend another year in the AHL with Ashton, etc and dominate, develop chemistry, etc.

At forward the contracts end June 2013 for: Connolly $4.75 MIL, Lupul $4.25 MIL, Lombardi $3.5 MIL, MacArthur $3.25 MIL, Armstrong $3.0 MIL, Bozak $1.5 MIL and Steckel $1.1 MIL.  7 out of 12 roster players at forward and $21.35 MIL in salary. 

Where will the prospects be that we are enjoying in the Marlies playoff run?  Hopefully on the Marlies for one more year learning what it takes to win and gaining confidence along with mental and physical maturity.
 
Guru Tugginmypuddah said:
Corn Flake said:
Kadri is playing like a man on fire in this round of the playoffs.  I think he's doing a fine job of starting to shake the "suspect" tag.  When players elevate their game in the post season like this, it's a huge thing. 

D'Amigo as well is making a strong case he isn't a suspect either.

Kadri doesn't turn 22 until October.  To me, he has always seemed a little immature, both on the ice and off. 

What I have noticed is he has progressively matured both on and off the ice.  Just watching him in interviews you can see he has grown up a lot since he was drafted.

Kadri to me seems a little more of a late bloomer.

I think of it the other way around, where players who mature before 22 are an exception rather than the norm.  Kadri's development to me is more or less on track for a typical NHL player.  He didn't jump the line like we all hoped/assumed, but he is progressing.  His playoff so far shows the big game on ice progression at a pro level and you showed the interviews where he's starting sound more like he gets it. 
 
Aside from being rushed into the NHL at an early age, Kadri's professional career has been very similar to former Kitchener Rangers teammate Mikkel Boedker. Very similar players too really. And Boedker is having a very good playoffs for the Coyotes. Proof that not all top picks need to make an impact in the NHL in their first couple of professional seasons.
 
Still funny how some of these younger players have 1 or 2 good playoff games in a row and everyone fawns over them (oh I'm sure we'd do the same) and on some sites have ripped Kadri's development for it. 
 
There are no skill issues with him. Or competitive issues either. He's just too light and weak to fight through stronger opposition without that quickness slighter players need. If he gets stronger or he improves his acceleration, he's on his way to being a significant NHL player. Otherwise, his career will go the way of Jeremy Williams' or Kyle Wellwood's careers.
 
http://theleafsnation.com/2012/6/11/on-the-leafs-cheap-forward-radar-nazem-kadri

Enjoy this blog occasionally, and it has some nice graphs on how Kadri compares to his draft class.
 
I've said this before, but I think Boedker is a spot on comparison for Kadri, both in terms of playing style and development. Kadri just needs to do what he did in his 3rd season and secure a roster spot now.
 
Given the Leafs intent to get bigger, I wonder if there is room for both Grabovski and Kadri in the lineup.  They are both small, skiled players, who play with an edge, but in a long playoff run they are going to get run down.

I can see the Leafs trading one of them this off-season, but have no idea which one has more value.
 
Etiam Vultus said:
Given the Leafs intent to get bigger, I wonder if there is room for both Grabovski and Kadri in the lineup.  They are both small, skiled players, who play with an edge, but in a long playoff run they are going to get run down.

I can see the Leafs trading one of them this off-season, but have no idea which one has more value.

I don't think so, not based on their size.  Grabbo isn't tall but he is well built and in pretty amazing shape. Kadri? Not so much.  He's still really weak in the upper body. You can see it whenever he is in street clothes.  Needs to get his arse into a serious heavy duty training regimen or he's going to spend another year in the AHL.

Frattin is another one.. built like a truck but not "big". 

I do think Burke needs to and is planning to bring in more size. I think Carlyle is demanding it. 
 
Corn Flake said:
Etiam Vultus said:
Given the Leafs intent to get bigger, I wonder if there is room for both Grabovski and Kadri in the lineup.  They are both small, skiled players, who play with an edge, but in a long playoff run they are going to get run down.

I can see the Leafs trading one of them this off-season, but have no idea which one has more value.

I don't think so, not based on their size.  Grabbo isn't tall but he is well built and in pretty amazing shape. Kadri? Not so much.  He's still really weak in the upper body. You can see it whenever he is in street clothes.  Needs to get his arse into a serious heavy duty training regimen or he's going to spend another year in the AHL.

Frattin is another one.. built like a truck but not "big". 

I do think Burke needs to and is planning to bring in more size. I think Carlyle is demanding it.

Frattin is one of those guys that play much bigger than his size.  I got a real kick out of some of the collisions with him during the season.  Someone would line him up for a big hit only to end up on his butt in dramatic fashion.  He's really solid on his feet.
 

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