Nazem-the-dream

It’s getting very close to training camp and Nazem Kadri is still without a contract.

Without getting into specific cap scenarios and constraints that the Leafs might be facing in trying to sign Kadri and Franson (whom I think is the bigger priority), I find this pretty disappointing to see from Nazem-the-dream.

I happen to like Kadri. Not always as a player for the Leafs, but as what I perceive him to be as a person. I think if you polled most people who watch hockey, they would generally agree with this. He comes off very genuine, candid, dedicated and just plain friendly in most of his media appearances.

On the ice, he’s okay. He does things that I don’t agree with sometimes, but so does every player. I think outside of extreme circumstances (Sean Avery’s on ice behavior as an example), we can’t fairly judge players for how they act during the game.

Now that I have qualified my opinion of Kadri, I feel okay about saying he’s acting like a complete prima donna this summer regarding his contract.

The discussion on his new contract should go like this:

Kadri: I would like 5 years or more

Nonis: No Nazem, you have just 63 points in 99 NHL games and less than a point-per-game average in the AHL. Here’s $5 million for two years and we’ll see how you do.

That’s it. End of discussion.

The mere fact that he’s even asking for more than a two or three year deal is preposterous. You don’t get a long-term deal at this age and with those stats unless you’re a can’t miss stud. Look at some of the names who have these 5+ year deals immediately after their entry-level deal:

John Tavares, Steven Stamkos, Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Gabriel Landeskog, Tyler Seguin

Kadri should be fetching these two water while he’s holding out..

Gabe’s looks are worth $5 million annually alone.

Before anyone jumps on the mention of Landeskog and his newly signed 5.75 million / 7 year deal, just consider comparing their bodies of work. Landeskog won rookie of the year, was named the youngest captain in NHL history and is about twice the player Kadri is away from the puck. While they play different styles, there isn’t a huge gap between them offensively either. Kadri is more creative offensively but I don’t necessarily think he’ll be a better point producer.

Kadri-lovers might even argue that he’s even as good as Hall, Seguin or Eberle. He’s not… or at least he hasn’t proven it yet. Kadri has done essentially nothing to date and couldn’t even stick with the Leafs roster his first two years.

I don’t care what people say about rushing young players, if you’re that good, you play in the NHL.

Does anyone think ‘the Nuge’ is physically developed enough to play against NHLers? No, he looks like he still needs about 30 pounds of muscle, and that’s putting it a lot more nicely than I usually do. Yet he still plays at the top level.

I’m sure this is what most NHLers see when they line up against Nuge in Edmonton.

The way I see Kadri developing is a lot like how Claude Giroux developed… I am not saying he’s as good as G either – just similar from a career/contract trajectory. Both had a lot of raw talent early on, but it wasn’t quite refined enough to determine the long-term player they would become.

Here’s how it breaks down.

Giroux

Age 19 – 2 NHL games, 0 points

Age 20 – 42 NHL games, 27 points, 33 AHL games, 34 points

Age 21 – 82 NHL games, 47 points

Age 22 – 82 NHL games, 76 points

Kadri

Age 19 – 1 NHL game, 0 points

Age 20 – 29 NHL games, 12 points, 44 AHL games, 41 points

Age 21 – 21 NHL games, 7 points, 48 AHL games, 40 points

Age 22 – 48 NHL games, 44 points (don’t include AHL lockout totals)

So at Age 20, it’s fair to say these guys are in the same realm. Age 21… well let’s give Nazem his mulligan and say he had an off year. Age 22, they were pretty close again. (Though I would like to note that I do not think Kadri would have got 76 points had last season been a full one, I would think he would end up in the mid-60 range)

Since age 22, Grioux has developed into one of the better players in the league and has been handsomely rewarded. The Flyers didn’t jump the gun though. Before signing an 8 year / $66 million deal he signed a 3 year / $11.25 million deal for a hit of $3.75 million.

I think that is still a little rich for my tastes if we’re talking about Kadri, but at least it’s in the right region and isn’t an outright joke like a 5+ year deal would be. We just can’t trust a guy who has been this inconsistent early in his career.

For me, the whole takeaway from this is that if Kadri is a good as he thinks he is or thinks he will be, he should spend a couple of seasons MAKING ONLY 2-3 MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY and then get his $60 million multi-year deal. What’s the difference anyway? If he signs a 5 year deal now and becomes a superstar then he will be underpaid in years 3-5. Or, he’s underpaid the next few years if he’s really good and makes up for it with his next contract.

Kadri has also taken to social media and TV more than once and said something along the lines of “I only want what’s fair. I’m not greedy.” Well, I’m sorry, but when you are haggling over a long-term contract you don’t deserve and have about 5 million bucks sitting on the table in front of you over the next 2-3 years, yeah, you’re greedy.

He should really see this as an opportunity using P.K. Subban as an example. He signed the bridge deal at a nice discount for the habs, won a Norris he probably wouldn’t have got in a full season and now is going to pillage Montreal (or some other team) worse than Montrealers did during the Richard Riot in his next deal.

PK pondering about how much he’s gunna take Bergevin for next time around…

I hope Kadri just signs his bridge deal. Or if not, speak out saying something other than you want what’s fair. Say the length-range you’re looking for or something… Don’t just refute what reputable hockey people like Bob-o or Bobo McKenzie are saying and then offer nothing (where does he get off questioning Bob anyway… guy’s a legend..).

If neither of these scenarios work, then as a fan I have no problem letting him sit out for a dozen games or so until he caves. Then he can put his tail between his legs and come back at a discounted-rate. From there, I will be more than happy if he shows us he’s worth a long term deal at big bucks because right now, he’s not even close.