Editor In Leaf
Fansided

Top 5 Toronto Maple Leafs Draft Lottery Selections of All-Time

By Stephen Nixon

BUFFALO, NY - JUNE 24: Auston Matthews poses for a portrait after being selected first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in round one during the 2016 NHL Draft on June 24, 2016 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - JUNE 24: Auston Matthews poses for a portrait after being selected first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in round one during the 2016 NHL Draft on June 24, 2016 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Toronto Maple Leafs
TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY, 18 In second period action, Toronto Maple Leafs .February 18, 2017 Richard Lautens/Toronto Star (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /

#5. Nazem Kadri

2009 NHL Entry Draft: 7th Overall

Brian Burke did a handful of good things as the G.M. of the Toronto Maple Leafs and drafting Nazem Kadri was one of them.

Kadri played 561 career games with the Leafs before being traded to the Colorado Avalanche for Tyson Barrie and Alex Kerfoot.

If you surveyed 100 die-hard Maple Leafs fans right now, I’m sure 90 of them would say that they would want Kadri back instead of having Barrie or Kerfoot right now. Barrie has been better since the arrival of Sheldon Keefe, but Kadri’s replacement Kerfoot doesn’t provide the same type of energy and style that Kadri does.

Although he was suspended in back-to-back playoff series against Boston, I think fans would take their chances the third time around if Kadri went up against their arch-rival Bruins.

His style of play can’t be taught and that agitator role he plays is so crucial for any team.

His current team, the Avalanche, are in a great position right now as one of the teams that will get a bye into the Round of 16 and Kadri will be a big reason if his team is able to make a long playoff run.

Home/Editorials