The Prince, Prince Nazem, The Next One, the most overrated nicknames of all time.
After reading the National Post on the weekend and finding an article entitled "The Prince"...I finally began to feel sorry for Nazem Kadri. The articles subtitle states that 'many believe he will be a top NHL scorer'...ummm who? Nazem Kadri was a 90 point OHL forward, he's not overly dominant on either side of the puck, and has a lot more maturing to do than Crosby, Hall, or Stamkos. Don't get me wrong, I think Nazem Kadri is a future 70-80 point player, season in and season out...a very respectable number, and a very very good draft pick, but that in no way qualifies him as a top NHL scorer.
An OHL scout told me that Nazem's biggest issue is maturity and understanding the NHL game. After watching the rookie camp I can see where he is coming from. Kadri appears to be carrying over the same tendencies over from his time with the London Knights. He perpetually attempts to carry the puck from end to end, he always tries to make the extra move, and he has yet to realize that he needs to stay out of the box and keep his skill on the ice.
In my personal opinion, the best decision for the Leafs would be to let Kadri play with the Marlies for a portion of his first professional season. This may not be popular opinion, but if there is one thing you've gotten from my blogs thus far, it's that I really don't give a shit what the majority thinks. Dallas Eakins (the head coach of the Marlies) is not far removed from the NHL himself, so he understands how to relate to young players, and how to get the best out of them. On top of this, if Kadri is sent to the minors for a period of time, it will humble him as a player and keep him dedicated to his goal of becoming an elite NHL player.
On an unrelated note, another reason I believe Kadri should play for the Marlies is because the Toronto media will not, and already has begun to prevent him from having growing pains and developing as a very YOUNG player. 'The Prince'...Really? 'Top NHL Scorer'...Really? How about saying 'Young prospect Kadri battles to make the Leafs and live out a boyhood dream'? When did that become too much for a 20 year old to want?
I think Nazem has a promising career ahead of him. I think he will make Leafs fans (including myself) very happy over his career here. However, I think we need to allow him to be young, allow him to be a rookie, and allow him to grow in this league. He is not Sidney Crosby, he is not Alexander Ovechkin, he is Nazem Kadri. Don't force him along. All the best to Nazem this season, and hopefully he brings us our long deserved cup soon!
Go Leafs Go
- BF6
