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Toronto Maple Leafs: Top 10 Draft Picks Of All-Time (2018)

By Michael Joubran

RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 24: Tomas Kaberle #15 of the Toronto Maple Leafs fires a shot on goal during an NHL ge Carolina Hurricanes ame against t on January 24, 2011 at RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 24: Tomas Kaberle #15 of the Toronto Maple Leafs fires a shot on goal during an NHL ge Carolina Hurricanes ame against t on January 24, 2011 at RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 28: Toronto Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri /

#9 Nazem Kadri

Oh where do I begin? Nazem “the dream” Kadri is still one of my all-time favourites. The type of game that he provides is crucial to a contending team. Drafted seventh overall in the 2009 draft, Kadri was picked so high because of the offensive skill that he was able to provide to his team.

Once he entered the NHL full-time, Nazem relied on his skill too much and was hurt because of it. He would be scrutinized by the organization, but things changed once Brendan Shanahan became team president. Kadri was still a little bit of an issue but this regime was not going to give up on him.

Once he started to find his game, head coach Mike Babcock gave him a new role as a shutdown centre and he excelled at it. Posting 31 goals in back-to-back seasons, while playing against top competition has shown everybody just how good he actually is. With career totals of 145 goals, 168 assists for 313 points in 488 games, Nazem is really starting to take off in his career.

He may be 28 by the time the season starts, but I believe Kadri will continue to improve into one of the best centres in the game. Especially considering he will be on the third line this upcoming season.

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