Nazem Kadri
| Birthday: 1990-10-06 | Position: C |
| Eligible for draft: 2009 | Shoots: Left |
| Drafted: 2009 | Height: 6-0 |
| Acquired: 1st round (7th overall), 2009 | Weight: 188 lbs. |
Probability of Success
- B
History
2006-07: This was Nazem Kadri's rookie season with the Kitchener Rangers (OHL). In 62 games, the center recorded 22 points (7g+15a), adding another two assists in nine playoff games.
2007-08: Kadri improved on his numbers from last season, netting 25 goals and another 40 assists in 68 games with Kitchener. He excelled in the postseason as well, recording 26 points (9g+17a) in 20 playoff games.
2008-09: Kadri was traded to the London Knights, netting 25 goals and 78 points in 56 games for that club. He put up another 21 points (9g+12a) in 14 playoff games. Scored a goal for the West at the OHL All-Star Classic. Appeared in the 2009 CHL Top Prospects Game. Once projected as a sure-fire top-10 selection, Kadri's draft status dropped significantly during the regular season, but began to climb back with a strong playoff performance.
2009-10: After a great training camp and pre-season with the Leafs, Kadri was returned to the OHL with a mandate: “get stronger and dominate the OHL.” In 56 games with the Knights, Kadri would score 35 goals and add 58 assists, playing on a relatively average team. He would also appear in a game with the Leafs as an emergency call up. In the OHL Playoffs, Kadri would take his game to a whole new level scoring 9 goals and 18 assists in 12 games.
2010-11: Kadri was called up twice by the Leafs – appearing in 29 games as a 20-year-old in his first pro season. After opening the season with the AHL Marlies, he played his first game with the Leafs in November and saw over 18 minutes of ice time in five of his first six games. His ice time diminished and he was sent back to the Marlies at the end of December but returned to the big club in March to finish the season. For the year, he scored 3 goals with 9 assists and was -3 with 8 PMs. Kadri was the Marlies' second-leading scorer despite appearing in just 44 games. He had 17 goals with 24 assists and was +2 with 62 PMs as the Marlies finished fifth in their division and missed the AHL playoffs.
2011-12: Kadri opened the season with the Leafs, appearing in three games before being returned to the AHL's Marlies, and appeared in a total of 21 NHL games in four separate call-ups in his second pro season. He had 5 goals with 2 assists and was plus-two with 8 penalty minutes while averaging 14 minutes of ice time during his time with the Leafs. Kadri was one of the top offensive threats for the Marlies – scoring 18 goals with 22 assists in 48 games and finishing plus-2 with 39 penalty minutes. Toronto reached the AHL finals after finishing first in the North Division. Kadri played in 11 of 17 playoff games and was plus-six with 3 goals and 7 assists.
Talent Analysis
Kadri is a highly skilled forward who can make plays at a whim in the offensive zone. He’s fearless on the ice which compensates for his small frame. While there are questions surrounding his game-to-game compete level and some of his decision making, his positives outweigh those negatives.
Future
Kadri began the 2012-13 season with the AHL's Toronto Marlies but is expected to secure a spot on the Leafs roster once the NHL lockout is settled.
