PHOTO BY SCOTT VANKOUGHNETT
Even though Nazem Kadri was on the opposite team, every time he touched the puck, the Kitchener Rangers’ fans felt like something was going to happen.
And – since most in the crowd were likely Maple Leafs’ fans – they wanted him to do something spectacular.
Drafted seventh-overall by the Leafs at this year’s draft in Montreal, Kadri is on a point a game pace so far with the London Knights, and attributes his solid start to what he learned at Leafs training camp.
“When you’re playing with the guys you’ve been watching on TV for years it’s almost unreal,” said Kadri after dropping a 6-4 loss to Kitchener. “They definitely show you the ropes and show you how to be a pro. That’s mostly what I took out of the experience at camp. They’re dedicated hockey players.”
Kadri had a very successful pre-season with the Leafs, scoring four goals, including one at the John Labatt Center (JLC) in London, where he has played the majority of his junior career.
“You couldn’t have written a better script,” he said. Obviously, back at the JLC, I was pretty pumped up for that game. It was my second exhibition with the Leafs so to score that first NHL goal was a bonus.”
Even though he impressed with the big club, the Leafs sent the 19-year-old down for more seasoning with the Ontario Hockey League’s Knights, wanting him to work on all aspects of his game.
“They just told me not to get away from my complete game because obviously here I’m looked at for offence,” said Kadri who had an assist in the game. “They didn’t want me to cheat on plays or blow the zone early. I have to make sure I play all three zones to the best of my ability.”
Kadri will have another chance to prove that he belongs, but this time on a national stage in the CHL Super Series vs. Russia next week. He will play in both games; Thursday in Barrie, and the following Monday in Windsor.
Many players use the Super Series as a tryout for the World Junior team in December, and Kadri feels he needs to do the same thing.
“I think that’s what it is; a tryout before the actual tryout,” he said. “You have to perform and show them what you’ve got to try and help lock down a spot at the World Juniors.”
Last season, Kadri missed his opportunity on both the Super Series team and the World Junior team as he was injured with a broken jaw. He had his jaw un-wired for the Junior camp, but was unable to keep up with the pace after not playing for a few weeks, and was cut.
He is looking forward to contributing this year now that he’s healthy, starting next week.
“I’m super excited,” said Kadri. “Obviously I missed the chance last year because of the injury and wasn’t able to show my full potential. I think this year I need to step it up and show what I can do.”
If anything, Kadri will definitely bring a needed scoring touch to this year’s World Junior squad that will be without John Tavares and potentially the injured Cody Hodgson – two of last year’s leading scorers.
And, if this season’s PIM total is any indication, he will have a more chippy side than normal. Asked if the Leafs told him to step up the physical play this season, Kadri laughed but said it was purely situational.
“It’s just a co-incidence,” he said. “It’s just time and place. Certain moments happen in the game where I feel like I have to do something about it. I had 31 – in total – last year so I think I passed that within the first 12 games. It’s definitely something new to me, but I don’t mind doing it.”
Topics: CHL, CHL Super Series, Kitchener Rangers, London Knights, Nazem Kadri, NHL, NHL Preseason, OHL, Team Canada, Toronto Maple Leafs, World Juniors
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