Nazem Kadri has been quite adept at drawing penalties throughout his professional career, but that has gone hand-in-hand with a reputation for embellishment. That reputation has finally caught up to the Toronto Maple Leafs forward, as the NHL has fined Kadri a total of $5,000 for two instances of diving last month.
Under NHL Rule 64, a player who repeatedly dives and embellishes in an attempt to draw penalties receives a warning on the first instance, a $2000 fine on the second and $3000 on the third.
— Stephanie (@myregularface) March 22, 2016
Kadri was cited for two instances of embellishment last month, on March 12th against the Ottawa Senators and against the Calgary Flames on March 21st. If the Leafs center is penalized for diving again, it will result in a $4000 fine for him and a $2000 penalty to Toronto head coach Mike Babcock.
Ironically, it was just last weekend that Babcock railed against officials not calling penalties inflicted against Kadri, including David Krejci knocking down the 25-year-old center in a 3-1 loss to Boston.
“About four games ago, when (the referees) decided that you can’t call a penalty on (Kadri), that was probably the memo to them.… Babcock said. “So that’s four games the memo must be out there that they’re not allowed to call a penalty. It’s got to be over with now. Let’s get on with it. When there’s a penalty, let’s call a penalty.…
The ability to draw penalties has been one of Kadri’s most effective traits, but it is possible that the recent unwillingness to call infractions against him could be the norm and may make him a less impactful player going forward.
That will have to be taken into consideration over the summer, when Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello makes the decision to re-sign Kadri to a long-term contract extension, offer salary arbitration for a short-term deal or trade the forward for help on the blueline or a goaltender.
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The Maple Leafs lineup in a 4-1 loss to Buffalo on Thursday was arguably their least potent and experienced this season.
The club inserted rookies Kasperi Kapanen, Tobias Lindberg and Byron Froese into the lineup, along with AHL veterans TJ Brennan and Andrew Campbell after sending rookies Connor Brown, Zach Hyman, Rinat Valiev and Connor Carrick to the American Hockey League on Thursday and were dominated (as usual) by the Sabres in Buffalo, allowing a pair of goals from Cal O'Reilly and Johan Larsson and 37 shots on goal.
Toronto may not be through sending players back to the Toronto Marlies prior to the end of the season, as Babcock says rookie William Nylander could be headed back to the AHL.
"Willy will be in the same boat, as soon as we get another center." Babcock said on Thursday. "As soon (Peter Holland comes back), we'll get (Nylander) down with the group too.
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