Five games into the preseason, and the Toronto Maple Leafs have already had their share of ups and downs. The team that finished 29th last season has looked to the Dion Phaneuf and Fredrik Sjostrom trade made on January 21st to turn their lackluster performance around. From the trade until the end of the season, the leafs had the 7th best record in the Eastern Conference. Since then, they have (re)signed a number of dominating players.
So far in this preseason, we have gotten mixed signals from the Leafs. We’ve seen both optimistic play as well as signs of old habits.
Now, more than half way through the preseason games, the Leafs must start making the hard decisions. The first of which will be what to do with Nazem Kadri. The 19 year old London Knights player has been Toronto‘s young hopeful. He had a very successful junior year last year with 35 goals and a point total of 93 in 56 games. But a number of questions have risen as to whether he will be on the Leafs opening night roster against the Canadiens. Many believe another year in the minors would do a lot to develop his skills, and Brian Burke is not one to hesitate sending players to the AHL. After Saturday’s game, he openly challenged the young forward, who gained 19 lbs training over the summer, saying “I don’t know why it is but… he’s not playing anywhere near to the level he was expected to. I don’t know why that is and he’s running out of time.”
If being picked 7th overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft for a team 200 km from where he grew up wasn’t enough to motivate Kadri, Burke’s remarks sure did. “It kind of lights a little fire up under me,” Kadri said. “If anything, it just motivates me.”
Kadri is not expected to dress in tonight’s game against Buffalo, but hopes to be in the roster for Wednesday’s game against the Senators. It may be the last chance he gets to prove himself this season.
Be sure to catch all the Preseason action you can. The games are exciting, action-packed, and full of new faces. Get your Toronto Maple Leafs tickets at ShowTimeTickets.com. We’re never sold out!