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Toronto Maple Leafs: Nazem Kadri and John Tavares Reunited

By David Scala

LONDON, CANADA - JANUARY 27: Head coach Mark Hunter of the London Knights makes a point during a play stoppage in a game against the Windsor Spitfires on January 27, 2012 at the John Labatt Centre in London, Canada. The Knights defeated the Spitfires 5-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
LONDON, CANADA - JANUARY 27: Head coach Mark Hunter of the London Knights makes a point during a play stoppage in a game against the Windsor Spitfires on January 27, 2012 at the John Labatt Centre in London, Canada. The Knights defeated the Spitfires 5-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs and the London Knights are the hockey equivalent to Jake & Elwood Blues, and the band is back together.

With the addition of superstar John Tavares, the Toronto Maple Leafs added much needed depth down the middle of their roster, while also reuniting two former London Knight line-mates in the process. The roster connections between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the London Knights are well documented; even more so now that former London Knights General Manager Mark Hunter returned to manage the historic OHL club once again, after mutually deciding to part ways with Kyle Dubas and the Toronto Maple Leafs this past summer.

The success of the London Knights is largely due to the brilliant management duo of brothers Dale and Mark Hunter. Hired by the Toronto Maple Leafs in October of 2014, Mark Hunter would soon bring over his London roots to Toronto; drafting Mitch Marner again, this time 4th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

The London Knights have an incredible history of NHL drafted players, including three current Toronto Maple Leafs: Mitch Marner, Nazem Kadri, and John Tavares. The Maple Leafs are the only NHL club to dress three former London Knights on their starting roster, and the duo everyone should be excited for is Nazem Kadri and John Tavares…..again.

Welcome To London Nazem & John

On June 1st 2008, London Knights General Manager Mark Hunter dealt three draft picks for Nazem Kadri. Seven months later, Hunter announced the acquisition of OHL superstar John Tavares; which still stands as the biggest blockbuster trade made in OHL history.

It didn’t take long for John Tavares and Nazem Kadri to find chemistry together. In just Tavares’ first game as a London Knight, he scored two goals; including the eventual game-winner from a spectacular pass by Nazem Kadri.

This is what London assistant coach Pat Curcio had to say about Kadri’s pass and the eventual Tavares goal, on londonknights.com. (Pyette, 2009).

"On the Kadri pass, a lot of guys would have just liked to get their stick on that puck but John not only did that, he drove it into the back of the net. That’s why he scored 72 goals as a 16-year-old. He does things with character and with passion."

The graph below contains scoring production between Nazem Kadri and John Tavares as line-mates. Kadri was set up just once by John Tavares, while Kadri set up Tavares 12 times. The duo combined for 26PTS in 24GP. Kadri’s games played in the graph I made below, which  is adjusted to include all games played starting from Tavares’ London Knight debut.

Projected Totals As A Duo

Just for fun, I calculated Kadri and Tavares’ scoring projections had they played together over the course of a full OHL 68 game schedule.

Kadri- 56GP, 25G, 53A, 78PTS (John Tavares Addition: 27GP, 9G, 24A, 33PTS)

Projected Totals With Tavares: 68GP, 26G, 68A, 94PTS

Tavares- 56GP, 58G, 46A, 104PTS (London Totals: 24GP, 32G, 18A, 50PTS)

Projected Totals With Kadri: 68GP, 91G, 51A, 142PTS

This Time Tavares Wears Number 91

A lot has changed from 2008 to 2018, but most importantly; Nazem Kadri doesn’t wear the number 91 anymore, which means this time Tavares gets the last laugh.

What becomes a popular talking point for the season, is how Tavares and Kadri will be utilized together in special situations as they are both centers on different lines at even-strength. Kadri has scored 32 goals in each of his last two NHL seasons while playing as the “shutdown” center; a term made famous by coach Mike Babcock.

If in fact Kadri and Tavares play together on the power-play, will Tavares play a significant role in driving up Kadri’s point totals? Last season Tavares scored 37 goals, and has never scored less than 24 goals during his entire nine year career in the NHL.

Next. The Lessons of the Past. dark

Tavares will have no issue scoring goals this upcoming season, the biggest question is how much he will add to Nazem Kadri’s game and vice versa. Will they have to learn to play with each other again after years of progression, or will their chemistry continue where they left off in 2008?

References & Statistics Provided By: sootoday.com , thehockeynews.com , londonknights.com , ontariohockeyleague.com , hockeydb.com , hockeyreference.com

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