With the Toronto Maple Leafs loosing the last 5 of 6 games and being shutout in the past 2 games the downward spiral is begining to show the lack of offense in the Leafs organization. Many fans are screaming for some offence and where can this offence come from? The most common name to be thrown around is Mr. Nazem Kadri. "Kadri should get called up" Toronto fans are saying or something like "Leafs need scoring - call Kadri up" are just some of the phrases being murmured in Leaf land these days. Okay, I will be honest with you, the Leafs do need to work on the goal scoring but is now the time? The Leafs are only 10 games in remember, a 5-4-1 record is pretty respectable considering what the expectations have been for the club. It's a tad bit too early to be worrying about scoring when a .500 club don't you think?
Not only is it too early for the club to worrying its to early for Kadri himself. With Kadri just starting to find his groove in the AHL 8 points in 8 games why call him up? Let him really develop and become a dominant player in the AHL first. If I recall correctly there was a reason why Kadri was put in the AHL...Oh yeah I remember his defensive game is nowhere to be seen and he is easily rubbed off the puck. From a hockey standpoint it takes a lot more than 8 games to learn how to play defence and I doubt that he has gotten significantly stronger since we last saw him with the big Club.
Hey, Just another thought... for scenario purposes let's say Kadri does get called up. Scenario #1 he does well in a 9 game stint. He get somewhere around 9 points and a few goals, he's the clubs new hero and saviour of the franchise....I can hear it now "Kadri will take us to the promise land" etc. and so forth... Isn't that a bit much for a kid who just got called up plus he will cool down eventually and what happens then? Then same thing that would happen if Scenario #2 occurred.
Scenario #2 Kadri gets called up. 9 game stint, no points, minus whatever, and is turning the puck over left right and centre. What happens now? Leaf Land will burst out in anger and boo the kid out of town.
Also were do you put him? Coach Dallas Eakins of the Toronto Marlies moved Kadri to wing just a few games a go due to the fact he was struggling playing the middle in the AHL. So with him a winger now where can you put him? Kadri has been chosen as a Top 6 forward by General Manger Brian Burke who also said he would not be called up to play on the bottom 6 role. So with Phil Kessel and Clarke MacArthur guaranteed top 6 wingers because of their goal scoring. Nikolai Kulemin and Kris Versteeg are likely top 6 wingers as well who do you kick out for the youngster?
Well in retrospect the best way to put it, it's too early to be thinking about this. Too many questions need to be answered first. Is Kadri improving where he is or should he be pushed harder? What roles does he take ? Winger or Centre? and will he help the team?
Sorry Leaf fans just watch the games and hope for the best, things take time.
