Toronto Maple Leafs: Nazem Kadri Signs In Calgary

The Toronto Maple Leafs traded Nazem Kadri because he couldn’t control himself and was suspended in two straight playoffs.

Kadri won the Cup last season with Colorado, and even though I wish he had of been able to win it with the Toronto Maple Leafs, it was still nice to see one of my favorite players ever win.

Though I knew it was a long-shot bordering on an impossibility, I had hoped Kadri might come home, even on a one-year deal, to try and win at home.

Clearly that was never going to happen, if for no other reason that he would still be the 5th best forward on this team, but it still sucks to see him sign in Calgary.

Toronto Maple Leafs and Nazem Kadri

The trade that sent Kadri out of Toronto worked out well for both teams, but given that Kadri broke out for 87 points last season (a statistical longshot at age 31) most people just ignore the facts and assume the Leafs lost the trade.

However, as much as I like Kadri, he’s a bit overrated, and Alex Kerfoot is insanely underrated, and ultimately I still think the Leafs did well on the deal.

Since the trade the Leafs have the best power-play in the NHL.  Kadri’s biggest contribution to his team’s success is on the power-play, but he would be superfluous on the Leafs who are already at the top without him.

Alex Kerfoot is better defensively and he is younger, cheaper, faster, and more versatile.  They both actually scored similarly at 5v5.  In the three years since the trade, Kadri has 94 5v5 points and Kerfoot has 86.

Last season, both players had career years. Kadri scored 2.99 P/60 while Kerfoot scored 2.44, in a much more complimentary role, with  better defense.

I realize I’m beating a dead horse here as far as perception goes, but in reality, the Kerfoot trade worked out great for the Leafs.  Kadri was an all-offense player they had in duplicate, and Kerfoot was a swiss army knife whom provided more of what they needed.

And, selective amnesia aside, Tyson Barrie was absolutely awesome from the day Sheldon Keefe took over as coach, and he had a very strong finish to his Leafs career.  He was a nice bonus to the trade, but ultimately, Kerfoot just isn’t as flashy as Kadri but otherwise makes the trade work on his own.

As for Calgary, I think it’s amazing that they refused to be forced into a rebuild and just went back out and restocked the cupboard. That said, Gaudreau + Tkachuk + the Husk of Monohan is still better than Huberdeau, Kadri, Weeger, and I think it’s hilarious people still are looking at them as a Cup Contender, but what can you do? (stats naturalstattrick.com).

Then again, just because Kadri had one great year at age 31, people think the Leafs shouldn’t have signed John Tavares, who has been better than Kadri is all but one season of their careers.

To sum up: Popular Opinion will never show proper respect to the Kadri/Kerfoot trade, but popular opinion is also the reason there are over 10 Star Wars movies, even though at least seven of them are unwatchable fan fiction.