Monday Morning Musings With "The Big E": The Nazem Kadri Machine

Nazem Kadri started the year in frustration. Having garnered two goals and two assists, as well as scoring a shootout winner against the Penguins in the preseason, it may have been reasonable for this young superstar-in-the-making to expect to remain with the team.

Brian Burke and Ron Wilson decided that it would be better for the young sniper to "tear up the OHL," gain a little more experience and some more confidence.

It was a good decision, though it may have taken Kadri a little time to realize it.

Upon his return to London, Kadri was a little slow out of the gate and may have been, though he wouldn't admit it, affected emotionally by the Leafs decision to send him back down.

In just 56 games this season, (one less than Taylor Hall and seven less than Tyler Seguin who both finished ahead of him),  Kadri still managed to end up in a tie for third in OHL regular season scoring with 35 goals and 93 points.

In this year's OHL playoffs, Kadri's London Knights faced the Guelph Storm in the first round and are moving on to face Kadri's former team, the Kitchener Rangers in the second round starting this Thursday.

Kadri currently leads all players in the OHL playoff with 14 points in five games and is a plus seven to also lead his team.

There is a lot of hope and speculation surrounding Kadri. He obviously has the talent to be a great hockey player.

He will have some work to do over the summer if he hopes to crack the Leafs lineup come fall. At 177 pounds, he does need to bulk up a little and was chided a little by Leafs defenseman Dion Phaneuf.

While watching the Leafs’ top prospect walk by in the dressing room after a one game cameo against the San Jose Sharks, Phaneuf suggested the 19-year-old London Knight return next fall with an NHL body.

“We all got a good chuckle out of hearing Dion size up Naz,” said the Leafs Director of Player Development, Jim Hughes. “But in a lot of ways, it is true. And what better way to hear it?

“If it was just coming from Ron Wilson (or General Manager Brian Burke) it would be expected, but this was from one of his soon-to-be peers. I’m sure he was listening with both ears.”

“I definitely didn’t take any offense,” said Kadri, who was recently voted the OHL Western Conference's best stick handler. “The idea of being up there talking to Dion Phaneuf was kind of surreal...I think I blacked out for a minute...but I got the message."

One way or the other, Leafs fans will be treated to more Kadri next season. While he will definitely be at training camp again, don't be surprised to see him with the Marlies to start the season.