Toronto Maple Leafs: Nazem Kadri Contract a Huge Bargain
By Carson Trask
Nazem Kadri has an extremely team friendly contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Nazem Kadri and Morgan Rielly signed matching six year deals with the Toronto Maple Leafs in April 2016. The Rielly contract was viewed as a smart investment on a young up and coming defenceman. The Kadri contract was (by some) viewed as a risk.
Kadri’s deal is for six years worth a total value of $27 million. The contract carries a $5 million salary for the first two years, 4.5 in years 3 and 4 and finishes out with a 4 million base salary in years 5 and 6. It is important to note that Kadri gets a modified NTC beginning in year 3. At the beginning of next season Kadri will submit a 10 team no trade list, per CapFriendly.
The Toronto Maple Leafs never questioned the skill level of Nazem Kadri. The question was if he was ever going to put it all together and reach his full potential. Expectations were high after being drafted seventh overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Kadri showed through his junior career with the Kitchener Rangers and London Knights that he has the ability to be a top offensive player, and it was expected to continue at the next level.
Start of Career
The start to Nazem Kadri’s pro career was a rocky one to say the least. Although Kadri was putting up solid numbers in the AHL, he was (unfairly) publicly criticized by head coach Dallas Eakins (who is now out of the NHL). His conditioning and work ethic drew the wrath of his bench boss, which even people at the time were calling ridiculous. Head coach of the Leafs at the time, Ron Wilson was also critical of Kadri’s complete game, also unfairly, and he too is now out of the NHL.
The perceived holes in Kadri’s game are the reason he didn’t become a full time NHL player until the lockout shortened 2012-13 season. It was a breakout season with 44 points in 48 games. With Kadri being an restricted free agent at the end of that season, Leafs management had an decision to make. Lock him up long term or give him a bridge deal? The Leafs went with the bridge deal approach, forcing Kadri to continue proving himself.
The following two seasons, Kadri didn’t match his previous breakout year with 39 and 45 points, but the Leafs were awful and a closer inspection of the stats showed a player on an upward trajectory, just one who was beset by lazy narratives, bad coaches and repuation-based analysis.
Stats Since Signing the New Deal
In the two seasons since signing Nazem Kadri has become one of the best bargains in the league. Back to back 32 goal seasons at his price tag is exceptional. Then when you factor in that Kadri plays against the other teams best players, at least on the road, it’s more impressive. The strides Kadri has taken in his 200 foot game since Mike Babcock took over as head coach has been great to watch – though it is too easy to credit Babcock because Kadri was great in both seasons before Babcock arrived – in at least one of those he was one of the most unlucky players ever, carrying a preposterously low on-ice shooting percentage. The seasons of being criticized by Ron Wilson and Randy Carlyle seem to be long gone. Credit to Kadri for being willing to adapt his game, while also becoming the offensive weapon he was expected to be. But also keep in mind that those are two old-school coaches whose methods are terrible. Kadri took a lot of unfair, undeserved criticism.
Notable Players With Similar Cap Hits
Alex Killorn 82 G.P 15 G 32 A 47 P 4,450,000
Max Pacioretty 64 G.P 17 G 20 A 37 P 4,500,000
Gus Nyquist 82 G.P 21 G 19 A 40 P 4,750,000
Troy Brouwer 76 G.P 6 G 16 A 22 P 4,500,000
Artem Anisimov 72 G.P 20 G 11 A 31 P 4,550,000
looking at these names shows that the production that Kadri has put forward these past two seasons makes him a huge bargain. You obviously have to exclude a players like Connor Mcdavid, Auston Mathews, Patrik Laine,who are still on entry level deals. Going through the list of players throughout the league with similar contracts, the one player that you can say has been a better bargain is Sean Couturier. Couturier had a huge season for the Flyers posting 76 points, while only carrying a cap hit of 4,330,000.
Notable Players With a Higher Cap Hit/Less Production
Ryan Johansen 79 G.P 15G 39A 54 P 8,000,000
Jason Spezza 78 G.P 8G 18A 26P 7,500,000
Milan Lucic 82 G.P 10G 24A 34P 6,000,000
David Krejci 64 G.P 17G 27A 44P 7,250,000
In the salary cap era, big cap hits can not only cripple a teams present ,but also their future. It is a risk for General Managers to give these mega deals. When a player is contributing the way they are expected to and the team is winning, these salaries are easier to stomach. The teams that continue to have success year in and year out are able to find cheap options that can contribute.
Nazem Kadri should be applauded for the strides he has made over his career. After everything he went through early on it is almost surprising that he is still a Toronto Maple Leaf. Kadri brings so much to the table, such as playing on the top power play unit and being tasked with shutting down the top opponents each night. It is absurd how many players in the NHL make more money than him, at a fraction of his production. With the Leafs set to have to pay William Nylander, Auston Mathews and Mitch Marner, Nazem Kadri’s best asset going forward could be his bargain contract.