Posts Tagged Nazem Kadri

Rangers need Kovalchuk? Modano has more options … Burke still looking for more … Bruins remaining off-season issues

  • Larry Brooks of the NY Post: The Rangers don’t have any young, blue chip prospects coming up that would need to receive big contracts once Marc Staal is done, so they don’t need to conserve money on that front. They need to sign Ilya Kovalchuk. Glen Sather has been in touch with Kovalchuk’s camp. If the Rangers don’t get Kovalchuk, they may look to Simon Gagne.

    Tell me the Rangers’ top six forwards consist of a permutation of The Great Gabby, Erik Christensen, Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan and maybe Vinny Prospal, Artem Anisimov or Sean Avery or Mats Zuccarello-Aasen, and then try to convince me Sather shouldn’t get in the game on Kovalchuk.

  • Chris McCosky of the Detroit News: Mike Modano has heard from Detroit and will listen to offers from San Jose and Minnesota. The Wings have about $3 million to re-sign Darren Helm, Justin Abdelkader and Derek Meech. Early last week it appeared Modano was just deciding if he wanted to retire or play for the Wings. As of late last week the ‘playing for the Wings’ part may have changed, according to Ken Holland.
  • Michael Traikos of the National Post: Brian Burke isn’t finished with the Maple Leafs this off-season, as there are still some free agents that intrigue him, and there’s the Tomas Kaberle situation. As it stands, their top-6 appears to be Phil Kessel, Tyler Bozak, Nikolai Kulemin, Kris Versteeg, Colby Armstrong and rookie Nazem Kadri, with only Armstrong being over 25. Ideally Armstrong would be on the 3rd line, and Kadri brought along slowly. Kadri is currently pencilled in but …“But he has to prove it. He is indeed pencilled in, but that pencil’s not going to come out when training camp ends. If it comes out, it won’t be until the 20-game mark.”
  • Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe: How things could unfold before the start of the season for the Bruins: 1. Trade Marc Savard, Shinzawa thinks a Savard-for-Kaberle deal makes sense. The Bruins could put him on waivers, and if claimed, would only be gaining salary cap space.  2. Extend Blake Wheeler before their arbitration hearing, maybe between $1.8-2.2 million per season. 3. Re-sign Gregory Campbell and Adam McQuaid. 4. Assign Michael Ryder to the AHL, since they won’t buy out his $4 million salary. 5. Make sure Tim Thomas is healthy after hip surgery, and hope that he can prove to other GM’s that he’s worth trading for.

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Leafs Close Could be Close to Cap Next Year … Ice Edge Pulling Offer for Coyotes? Blue Jackets to Interview for Head Coaching Position … Kovalev Hurt

  • Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke isn’t worried about the Leafs cap situation for next season. “I’m not worried about (the cap),” general manager Brian Burke said. “We’re not shackled here. I don’t think we’re handcuffed. If I thought we were handcuffed, I’d tell you that.” If the Leafs go into next season with the same roster, and add Nazem Kadri, their cap number is about $51.55 million. About $55.55 million after resigning RFA Jonas Gustavsson and Nikolai Kulemin. Options they have to free up some money are demoting Jeff Finger to the minors, and/or listening to offers for Mike Komisarek or Francois Beauchemin. Tomas Kaberle is also a trade option.
  • Toronto Sun: Ice Edge Holdings is considering pulling its offer to buy the Phoenix Coyotes, as talks with the city of Glendale aren’t going well.
  • Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette: Hickey thinks that Martin Biron would be a good back up candidate for either the Jaroslav Halak or Carey Price next year for the Canadiens.
  • Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: A reader asks Mike of possible defensemen targets for the Dallas Stars this off-season through free agency or trade. Heika lists some possibilities as: Sergei Gonchar, Pavel Kubina, Kim Johnsson, Paul Martin, Derek Morris, Willie Mitchell, Anton Volchenkov and Dan Hamhuis.
  • Aaron Portzline of hte Columbus Dispatch: Blue Jackets interim coach Claude Noel has had some success since he took over for Ken Hitchcock, leading them to a 10-9-5 record down the stretch, but that doesn’t garantee him the coaching gig for next year. GM Scott Howson will interview at least 6 to 8 other candidates, including Noel. On the list could be Kevin Dineen (Portland AHL), Paul MacLean (Det. asst.), Brent Peterson (Nash. asst.), Kevin McCarthy (Phil. asst.), Scott Steven (NJ asst.), Jim Playfair, Craig MacTavish, Guy Boucher (Hamilton AHL) and Bob Boughner (Windsor OHL).
  • Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: The Ottawa Senators may have lost Alex Kovalev for an indefinite period of time. Kovalev was helped off the ice in the second period with an injured left leg. Kovalev was unable to put any weight on his leg, more should be known today.
  • Dan Barnes of the Edmonton Journal: The Oilers needed to kick start the rebuiding process hard this summer, and if they don`t, it would be a disappointment. Barnes lists the following players that could be on their way out: Charles Linglet, Dean Arsene, Aaron Johnson, Marc Pouliot, Patrick O’Sullivan, Fernando Pisani, Mike Comrie, Robert Nilsson, Devan Dubnyk, Ryan Potulny, Ryan Jones, Ethan Moreau and Sheldon Souray.

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Centre Nazem Kadri Will Make NHL Debut Tonight For Leafs

“Centre Nazem Kadri will make his NHL debut for the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight.

The 19-year-old was called up on an emergency basis as Christian Hanson and Fredrik Sjostrom will both be sitting out with the flu.

Kadri has 26 goals and 40 assists in 42 games with the OHL’s London Knights this season.

The London, Ontario native was drafted seventh overall by the Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.” (Source:TSN)

It’s been an interesting week for the Toronto Maple Leafs and with Nazem Kadri making his NHL debut tonight, it’s going to get even more interesting with many in Leafs Nation holding their collective breath…

Kadri is the prized prospect in the Leafs system and as much as fans are anxious to see him with the big club, there’s a danger in putting 167 pound, 19 year old rookie on the ice with the big boys.

Kadri was pretty ordinary at the World Junior Championships and the impression many had was that he seemed dis-interested and somewhat undisciplined. That kind of play won’t be tolerated at the pro level, but it’s safe to say that his interest should be focused tonight.

I’m not suggesting that 1 game will set the tone for his entire career but there is comfort in ignorance regarding a players potential, and the days of romancing about the future of Nazem Kadri is coming to an abrupt end in Leaf land…

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Around the Boards: Interest in Hagman, Kadri Call-up? Markov on Skates

  • Ron Longley of the Toronto Sun: Dave Nonis, Senior VP of hockey operations, and right hand man to Brian Burke, confirmed that the Maple Leafs have received interest in Niklas Hagman. Nonis said “We’ve been listening. There’s a big different between listening and shopping him. But we would listen to any offer that we thought might make the team better.” I don’t see how trading Hagman would improve the Leafs in the short run, as teams that are probably interested in him think they are close to contending and wouldn’t want to give up a solid roster player. Trading your 2nd best goal scorer for draft picks, only increases the chances that Boston will be picking in the Top 5 this season, and maybe Top 10 next year. Hagman has the talent to be a 30-35 goal scorer, which is pretty good for a 2nd line winger. With Hagman’s play of late, he might be working his way to a legitimate top 6 player, which would give the Leafs 2 (Kessel the other).
  • From ESPN’s Rumor Central: “The Toronto Maple Leafs might soon be pressured to bring up top prospect Nazem Kadri, especially if the Leafs have trouble shaking up the roster through trades.” I don’t know where this came and I’m sure there is no truth to it, just an attempt to start a rumor in Leafland (and the sad thing is, it will probably work).  The Leafs have been playing well the last 10-15 games, and have outplayed their opponents in most games. Bringing up Kadri would not help the Leafs win more games. Yes, they could use 2, top 2 centers but Kadri is not ready. If there are any call-ups, they’ll be from the AHL, and not the OHL.
  • Dave Stubbs of the Montreal Gazette: Andrei Markov skated for 10 minutes yesterday for the second time since having his tendon on his left foot sliced during the first game of the season. Markov is slightly ahead of schedule and is aiming for an early January return. My fantasy team awaits your return.

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