On a hot, sweltering Toronto afternoon, I meet up with the Leafs 2009 top pick Nazem Kadri.

I am not taking the time to read this, but the opening line reminds me of when Kramer is reading the penthouse forum articles to George...

A bust?
I was a big fan of Kadri while in London and his first year as a leaf. Then the diving and whining started...I was no longer a fan. But I never once thought he would be bust. When he was drafted, I was expecting him to be a good 2nd liner, I know most on here were hoping for a 1st line player...but a good 2nd liner is all I expected. Which is what he turned out to be. He's matured and had a great year last season, I dont expect 30 goals this season, but most likely the same total points.
Good draft pick, good deal, good player (quit diving).....happy for him and the leafs.
Lets get the season going.
- Fakepartofme

Mike Ribeiro with more snarl and sans the alcohol.

Nazem Kadri wears pantyhose.
- jmatchett383

Mike Ribeiro with more snarl and sans the alcohol.
- AdamFrench

Its a sin bro.

Mike Ribeiro with more snarl and sans the alcohol.
- AdamFrench

Mike Ribeiro was a much better passer, but had the shot of a 15 year old bantam player.

Mike Ribeiro was a much better passer, but had the shot of a 15 year old bantam player.
- Scabeh

Kadri has at best a major bantam single A wrister.

Kadri > McDavid
Kadri > Ribeiro
Ribeiro > McDavid

On a hot, sweltering Toronto afternoon, I meet up with the Leafs 2009 top pick Nazem Kadri. This was the 2nd time I have met the young budding star and to say I was surprised is putting it mildly. The first time I met Nazem was September 2009, a scrawny young kid listed at 170lbs. I doubted he'd tip 165 in a wet suit when I first met him. This time around I was blown away. Maybe it was the heat, or maybe it was just the excitement of seeing this rising young star again at the beginning of his career. He had obviously started to fill out, and the results of all his hard work at the gym were more than evident. I bit my lip and thought to myself "Oh to be 19 again". What was once scrawny was now filled out and buff. Muscles rippled, pecs stood out, the face of the young lad had started to turn into that of a man. He sensed my shock when I saw him and greeted him.

"Wow", I say. "You're not how I remember"
Kadri giggles nervously and replies "Yeah, it's taken a lot of hard work".

I must have stared a moment too long because he seems to get nervous just then and suggests we move on and get the interview under way. I forget he's still a boy even though he's looking more and more like a man. I offer to buy him a smoothie from the Papaya Hut in downtown Toronto but he tells me he's on a strict diet. I grab my smoothie, and we leisurely stroll down Yonge St. and discuss his potential to make the Leafs this season.

Kadri is realistic about his chances this upcoming season and knows he has a tremendous opportunity if he works hard. He tells me it's been his dream since he was a kid to make the NHL and the opportunity presented by the Leafs is one he doesn't want to miss out on.

"We have a young core of players here in Toronto, the youngest in the league, I just hope I can show enough at camp to stick with the big club". Kadri has been penciled into the Leafs lineup by many observers but he knows it won't be that easy. "Last season was tough. I really thought I could stick in the NHL, but I realized later on that I still had a ways to go. I set out to improve myself and my game in hopes of making it this season"

The willingness and the ability to improve are two strong traits in this young man. After a slow start to the OHL season, Kadri picked up the pace to finish with 93 points in only 56 games and was named as a finalist for OHL player of the year. He continuted his strong play into the playoffs where he netted an incredible 27 points in only 12 games. These are stats that should get any Leafs fan excited about this young man's potential.

We briefly chat about his muslim upbringing and how he is being viewed as a potential role model in the league, a barrier smasher so to speak.
"I don't think about that stuff", replies Kadri, "I'm just me, I try to be the best I can be, if I inspire any other kids that's great, but I don't see myself as anything special in that regard".

I tell him he IS special, and he nervously accepts my compliment.

As we end the interview, I watch him walk away from me, I gaze and think about the future of this young star, this mere boy who is now filling out a man's body. The heat from the afternoon has coated Kadri's shirt in sweat, and I can easily make out the physique under his shirt. I still can't believe how much he's filled out, and I have to finally turn away as I bite my lip again.

I can't see into the future, but I predict great things for Kadri. Leafs fans should prepare themselves for success, with Kadri on a young Leafs team, the future is oh so bright.
- AdamFrench

Good, but needs more jorts.

Kadri has at best a major bantam single A wrister.

Kadri > McDavid
Kadri > Ribeiro
Ribeiro > McDavid
- Bigzby

He just scored 32 goals.

I clearly underestimated major bantam single A's players....

He just scored 32 goals.

I clearly underestimated major bantam single A's players....
- Scabeh

His shot is pretty weak. He scored a lot of weird wristers that floated in.

I still don't get why penalty minutes are sold as a positive when describing players...... especially a non-goon like Kadri. Sure he draws penalties, but that's a LOT of PK time.

His shot is pretty weak. He scored a lot of weird wristers that floated in.
- AdamFrench

Garbage RBZ stick... variable flex points are trash if you don't have the muscle for it.

I see Kadri getting around 55 points this year

I still don't get why penalty minutes are sold as a positive when describing players...... especially a non-goon like Kadri. Sure he draws penalties, but that's a LOT of PK time.
- BALUCHA

I have no way of quantifying this with a single fact, but I feel like he doesn't go to the box alone very often.

I like Kadri.

Hopefully he scores almost as many goals as last year... might be tough to repeat on the top matchups.

Also, I don't like the diving but I like to cocky mouthiness, and the edging on recklessness.

I also like how he gets hockey racists to expose themselves (sic) on the internet.

I like Kadri.

Hopefully he scores almost as many goals as last year... might be tough to repeat on the top matchups.

Also, I don't like the diving but I like to cocky mouthiness.

I also like how he gets hockey racists to expose themselves (sic) on the internet.
- TheMussel

his shooting % seems sustainable. he shot the puck a lot more last year. if he keeps that up, 25-30 seems attainable.

matthews will get a lot more of the tougher matchups from the get go this year.

I like Kadri.

Hopefully he scores almost as many goals as last year... might be tough to repeat on the top matchups.

Also, I don't like the diving but I like to cocky mouthiness, and the edging on recklessness.

I also like how he gets hockey racists to expose themselves (sic) on the internet.
- TheMussel

Like HH?

http://www.bbc.com/news/u...-england-bristol-41167296

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-41167296


- TheMussel

Fack simpson and Hughson.
I cannot believe those tools are still doing leaf broadcast. Can someone not start a social media thing advocating these two be removed from leaf broadcast?

- Fakepartofme

No kidding, time for Bowen

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-41167296


- TheMussel

Kids, let me tell you how I met your mother.

his shooting % seems sustainable. he shot the puck a lot more last year. if he keeps that up, 25-30 seems attainable.

matthews will get a lot more of the tougher matchups from the get go this year.
- Tumbleweed

Here's a beauty clip of when Burkie (frank)ed the Sens out of Kadri, and then to add insult to injury Sens picked Cowen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kzgalcl3tD8

Here's a beauty clip of when Burkie (frank)ed the Sens out of Kadri, and then to add insult to injury Sens picked Cowen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kzgalcl3tD8
- winsix

it was a classic Burke moment wasn't it?

He's come a long way. Good for him.

I'll admit it, I called him a bust at first, didn't like him or his attitude.

In the end, he turned into quite the effective player and is part of the Leafs future for years to come.

Signed a pretty good deal for a while too.
- Scabeh

Jesus, don't go overboard on your praise.

Quite and pretty.

Must've been hard for you.

it was a classic Burke moment wasn't it?
- Lucas.Neilson

Funny how back when Kadri struggled, Sens fans would use that clip to mock Burke.

Now Burke looks like a smart man holding on his pick and the player he wanted.

it was a classic Burke moment wasn't it?
- Lucas.Neilson

one of the few good ones.

too bad his (frank) ups were bigger.