Despite.
The leafs player developmental system under Burke-Nonis era was absolutely dreadful. He responded well once he finally got consistent icetime.
Post 2014 though I think he has benefited a bit more from the system they’ve put in place (He’s really responded so well to Babcock).
well that's just grossly unfair considering Kadri himself gives Babcock and Shanahan a crap tonne of credit for helping him turn his game around. that' alone means "because of" not "despite"
He is but that doesn't mean that the handling of his development by the team didn't have an impact on him. Ron Wilson really didn't like Kadri and yo-yo'ed him the whole time he was coach. Carlyle was a bit better but still wasn't doing right with Kadri. Kadri also had some off ice issues that were only really taken care of when Shanahan came in and took a direct hand in his development, and got rid of alleged bad influences (Cough Lupul Cough).
Lots of players have talent but aren't developed properly, given the right opportunities, or are just in the wrong organization at the wrong time (Yakupov). So yeah, Kadri had the skill, he just needed the guidance and opportunity to prove himself and evolve into the player he is today. There's no doubt that Shanahan and Babcock have had a huge influence on him as a player and person, and now Kadri and the team get to reap the rewards.
Thank God it happened here. Otherwise if some had had their way and he was traded, his breakout would've happened somewhere else and Kadri would be this generations Alex Steen.
I don't know why people lament over Alex Steen like we missed out on on someone incredible awesome or even impactful.
to answer the question, I would say it would lay somewhere in the middle. I personally feel that a lot of people (maybe a majority of people) want to put it on Burke/Nonis, or Shanagement, (or just Kadri).
I personally feel that Kadri always had the skill and if not for Carlyle telling Nonis he'd be stupid to trade Kadri, Kadri would be gone. I do think Carlyle was helpful for some aspects for Kadri's game even though to a lot of people, they don't because Carlyle was "mean" to Kadri in the media.
This part is tricky for me, because I have to be consistent however i also need to acknowledge this part - I do feel Shanahan and babcock having the come to Jesus/intervention with Kadri and his parents pretty much saved his career here in Toronto because Kadri could have easily have gone "whatever" and I think had that been his reaction - Kadri would have been traded. That takes a lot of maturity to do. However everything
up until that point shouldn't have been on management either. like I think Kadri was a bit immature and i do think an individual should know when to grow up and get his career together. it's taking ownership of your life and it shouldn't be expected for Management to step in and make you face it (and I think we need to call a spade a spade. If this wasn't Naz but it was someone really on the fence, you'd have to wonder if it happens. probably not).
i personally see Kadri as the end result of the saying "it takes a village to raise a child."
it was a good chunk of himself, a good chunk of several different people (not just the "good bits), and good overall management