I hope Kadri just continues to play centre, it's GREAT news for this organization. Kadri is currently centering Ross and Frattin and I doubt that gets broken up any time soon.
If you look at many of the stars of the past and present, many fall into this category.
Before I go any further, I am not pencilling in Kadri as a "star", not am I comparing him to any of the players I am using for argument's sake.
The fact is that stars find a way to produce when they've got nothing going for them. All they need is a sliver of an opportunity at the right time to make their magic.And that's why some of their shortcomings are often overlooked. A guy like Hull was famous for this; sleepwalking through periods at a time, waking up in an instant to pot a timely goal. Jagr, known as "moody" and "brooding" was/is notorious for this as well.
Gaborik can be in Torts' doghouse all night long, all it take is one shift, one shot or one chance and most is forgotten.
I'm really happy we're playing him at centre, especially with Frattin on his wing too. He was drafted as a centre, plays his best as a centre, says himself that he feels most comfortable at centre, and has the game made to be a centre (defensive game needs a bit of work but he's been improving). If we ever hope to see him at centre someday in the NHL, why not have him play there in what is supposed to essentially be a "developmental" league for prospects. Also, didn't he play centre in last year's playoffs? I can't remember if he did or not.
If you look at many of the stars of the past and present, many fall into this category.
Before I go any further, I am not pencilling in Kadri as a "star", not am I comparing him to any of the players I am using for argument's sake.
The fact is that stars find a way to produce when they've got nothing going for them. All they need is a sliver of an opportunity at the right time to make their magic.And that's why some of their shortcomings are often overlooked. A guy like Hull was famous for this; sleepwalking through periods at a time, waking up in an instant to pot a timely goal. Jagr, known as "moody" and "brooding" was/is notorious for this as well.
Gaborik can be in Torts' doghouse all night long, all it take is one shift, one shot or one chance and most is forgotten.
I agree with Jagr and Hull but Gaborik is a different story. All he needs to do is a little floating on the right shift, or even just blow by a defense. His speed is the biggest difference IMO. But another guy you need to add to that list is Semin. There's been plenty of times where he comes out randomly on a shift and just looks like absolute gold. And just makes an absolute DIRTY snipe. Same with Radulov..
I hope Kadri just continues to play centre, it's GREAT news for this organization. Kadri is currently centering Ross and Frattin and I doubt that gets broken up any time soon.
how is ross doing? is he like a less offensive tucker?
im routing big time for kadri. kid gets no respect on here. i would love if for just once one of our prospects came out of no where and just dominated.
I don't think it's any coincidence that Kadri is looking and producing better now that he's back in a more full time centre role.
Or we could pretend Dallas is a good coach who knew Naz needed to work on a few things until he was ready to be shifted back to center and is now seeing the rewards of that work.
I've watched Kadri play all season, and I feel he's been nothing special. Him getting this designation 'player of the week' I feel, is solely based on his points, not on his actual play. I can name a handful marlies playing above and beyond his level, and they get far less icetime.
The guy turns over the puck like it's his full time job, looks like he is going at half speed most of the time. He seems to always be one step behind the competition.
I played competitive hockey all my life and know all his little tricks, in order to make it look like he's working harder then he is. He doesn't ever save ice on turns, it's always this wide drawn out circle, doesn't keep his feet moving.. It's frustrating because i will watch him play a whole game terribly, then he will somehow net 2 assists on the only two passes that were good and everyone cheers him as if he's a superstar. I dunno if this makes sense, but it's like he is playing to impress his girlfriend in the crowd. He has this nonchalant'ness' to the way he plays which is aggravating at times. I would be stoked about his confidence if he were heads above everyone else on the ice, but he isn't, he's just a fine player that is slightly above average in the AHL.
Then again maybe this guy is a superstar, and I just can't get over my initial feelings towards his play style. Maybe I can't see his potential because he's such a sloppy skater, I just don't know. I really want to like him, I was excited when he was a london knight, and playing for team canada, but now not so much. I feel like I see the same things leaf management see's, and I full understand why he hasn't been brought up full time to the big leagues.. I think if he does make it too the big leagues he won't stack up more than a third line centre, or possibly a second line winger.
I understand what you're saying but the reason I like Naz is the same reason I love Patrick Kane. They just make it look effortless. I'm not saying they are at the same level (or even that they aren't for that matter) but I think they share the same trait as personalities on the ice.
3 points shy of 4th overall. 21 points in 15 games. Guess the 2009 draft picks:
NHL
63 GP 20 PTS
51 GP 19 Pts
2012 AHL
25 GP 26 PTS
24 GP 24 PTS
Playoffs 2011-2012:
11 GP 9 PTS
11 GP 10 PTS
Very close indeed.
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Woodlief
using his big frame to create space and his skating ability to find open lanes to drive the net. He stands 6-3 and is a natural goal scorer with plenty of confidence.
He's a scout's dream in the way he prepares himself and plays an unselfish game, making smart decisions with the puck. With his bloodlines, he certainly understands what it will take to make it at the next level.
how is ross doing? is he like a less offensive tucker?
im routing big time for kadri. kid gets no respect on here. i would love if for just once one of our prospects came out of no where and just dominated.
Well that would not be Kadri. He's well known, so for a prospect to come out of nowhere, maybe it would be someone like Connor Brown, 6th. round pick. A 7th. overall is kind of expected to produce something, and that could include domination. And well, domination hardly ever happens from any player, because the talent is so equal in the league, but I know what you mean.
To see Kadri in the top 5 of the NHL scoring ever would be a great reward for the patience shown by Leafs' fans.
If Kadri could be the Leafs Claude Giroux, we'd have a home-run there.
Adirondack is so bad Sean Couturier 20, is their 2nd. leading scorer. Their best goalie is a 30 year old who played 1 NHL in 2008-2009 season and had no stats.
At least Burke has some goalie prospects on his team, along with some veteran forwards to help nurture the kids.
Adirondack is so bad Sean Couturier 20, is their 2nd. leading scorer. Their best goalie is a 30 year old who played 1 NHL in 2008-2009 season and had no stats.
At least Burke has some goalie prospects on his team, along with some veteran forwards to help nurture the kids.
In all fairness had frattin not been injured, him and kadri would have probably been the 1-2 leading scorers for the marlies
In all fairness had frattin not been injured, him and kadri would have probably been the 1-2 leading scorers for the marlies
We shouldn't really compare Frattin and Kadri too much to Couturier, who is four years younger than Frattin and arguably more accomplished at the NHL level already.
We shouldn't really compare Frattin and Kadri too much to Couturier, who is four years younger than Frattin and arguably more accomplished at the NHL level already.
I wasnt. I wanted to say that it isnt slight to a team if it has has 2 prospects as their top scorers.
