Toronto's Nazem Kadri will have a hearing tomorrow for cross-checking Detroit's Luke Glendening.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) April 3, 2016
Nazem Kadri is in trouble.
Again.
This time, he won't be able to have his accountant scratch a check in order to buy his way out of it.
On Friday afternoon, the NHL whacked Kadri five grand for embellishment/diving. That's walking around money for Kadri.
On Saturday morning after the game day skate ahead of the Leafs-Red Wings game, a defiant Kadri vowed that he would not be changing his game.
Rather than taking his medicine and acting contrite for his actions, Kadri protested the fine for his obvious embellishments.
“I didn’t agree with it, nor did I like it,… said Kadri. “I mean I’ve got to accept it though. That’s just how it is. Pay the fine and move on.…
Kadri is now a Stage 3 embellishment offender which means that his next offense will be costing him $4,000 cash, and, his head coach Mike Babcock will have to pay a $2,000 fine of his own. Babs must be thrilled with Kadri at this point.
“Diving and making something a little more obvious is two different things,… said Kadri. “You don’t want to be labelled (as a diver). Obviously I play hard and I play with grit. That’s not going to change the way I play.…
Kadri can't see what those around him see. He hasn't done an honest self-evaluation. I think he should. Seriously. Kadri comes off as a rich, stubborn, entitled jock who is failing to pay the game the utmost respect that it deserves.
On Saturday night, Kadri's latest jackpot occurred when he failed to check himself and his temper. His latest infraction will likely land him a multi-game suspension.
Watch as Kadri tracks down the unsuspecting Glendening and buries his from the blind side.
A bit of a smoother look at the Kadri cross check on Glendening. #RedWings #Leafs pic.twitter.com/ejcRoYRIXR
— Stefan Kubus (@StefanKubus) April 3, 2016
A better angle of the Kadri cross check on Glendening. Kadri having his hearing for it tomorrow. #RedWings #Leafs pic.twitter.com/sqwy1r5qvc
— Stefan Kubus (@StefanKubus) April 3, 2016
Kadri chose to smash Glendening on Hockey Night In Canada. Kadri, who had his helmet yanked off during an MMA-inspired battle with Glendening, high tailed it after Glendening and leveled him with a high hit.
Did Kadri honestly think that he was going to get away with this hit?
Kadri will be considered a repeat offender. He was suspended four games late last season for an illegal check to the head of an opponent.
Babcock should seriously sit Kadri down and immediately deliver a stern message that his extra curricular actions are making him look bad to the officials and the rest of the NHL.
Better yet, Babs should ask Wendel Clark, Doug Gilmour, Mats Sundin, Borje Salming, and Curtis Joseph to have a manversation with Kadri about playing for and respecting the Maple Leaf crest on the front, not the name on the back of the sweater.
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What Are Bolts Drouin Wrong? https://t.co/fKJSBBGBkP pic.twitter.com/04VUy19dt4
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) April 3, 2016
Oy vey!
The Tampa Lightning can't catch a break these days! On Saturday night, Bolts GM Steve Yzerman broke the news that his team's captain Stevven Stamkos will be lost for the next 4 to 12+ weeks with a blood clot issue in his right collarbone region.
Comes news from Tampa that the Lightning are not planning a call-up to replace Stamkos. At least not for now, Bolts AGM Julien Brisebois told the Tampa Bay Times.
Jonathon Drouin is the natural player to be called up, right?
Um, wrong.
Drouin has suffered a lower body injury and is a scratch for today's Syracuse Crunch vs. Utica Comets battle.
According to the Crunch, Drouin is now listed as day-to-day.
It begs the question:
What the hell have the Bolts done to piss off the hockey gods?
Stamkos is a major loss from the Tampa lineup. Ditto Victor Hedman's D partner Anton Stralman, Tampa's #2 D monster, who broke his fibula and is out of the lineup indefinitely.
Drouin has scored nine goals in his last nine games in AHL Syracuse.
The Lightning lifted their suspension of Drouin in mid-March. Since then, the former third overall pick in the NHL draft has played his way back into the good graces of Yzerman, Brisebois and the Tampa management and coaching staffs.
Jonathan Marchessault is Tampa's thirteenth forward right now.
Stamkos is scheduled to undergo vascular surgery to remove his blood clot on Monday afternoon in Tampa. While Stamkos is being discharged home from his surgical procedure, his teammates will be opening an important four game road trip in Brooklyn against the Islanders.