Speculation: Is Kadri going through the motions this year?

[Gary Nylund]

but our GM thinks our defense is underrated and people think we can just Pittsburgh this out, so who knows if we'll ever really make strides to improve our defense on either the back end or on the wings/middle.

Jake Muzzin says hello.

You keep trotting out this quote from Dubas as if it means he will never seek to improve our D. People were telling you months ago that that quote didn't mean that he wouldn't try to improve our D, the quote just meant well you know, what it said - that our D was underrated. Now this has proven to be true, Dubas did make a move to improve our D and a pretty big move it was too so it's really strange that you're still mentioning this old quote as if means anything.

The quote meant nothing then, it means even less than nothing now and in case you didn't hear it the first time, Jake Muzzin says hello again.

 

[The Apologist]

I doubt Naz is going through the motions. Don't think it's in his DNA. Just having a tough season is all.

 

[Gary Nylund]

It's always the linemates fault.
A good centre should be able to drive his own line.

Kadri needs to show something out there!

No agenda in that article.

But whatever I don't give a crap.

It's not a matter of fault, it's a matter of context. Linemates always matter, for example, I'm pretty sure Bergeron wouldn't have the best line in the NHL with two random wingers, it's just common sense.

I doubt Naz is going through the motions. Don't think it's in his DNA. Just having a tough season is all.

I agree. Hopefully he has his best post-season ever!

 

[Pookie]

... for the fact that Naz's production was hampered being moved down to the third line. We could have gotten a third line centre who is actually used to little minutes to produce, and boom. we're cooking. and it's nothing against Naz. it just made the most sense for this team to do.

but our GM thinks our defense is underrated and people think we can just Pittsburgh this out, so who knows if we'll ever really make strides to improve our defense on either the back end or on the wings/middle.

Having a hard time with the notion that being moved the 3rd line hurts production.

Yes, you typically don’t get the star wingers but consider:

- TOI has not changed significantly
- 1st line PP TOI has not changed and has been upgraded with Tavares
- he’s not facing top line opponents.

Age hurts production. The only ones really surprised by our 39 point Centre are those that felt last year’s 20 game horror show was a blip... it was the start of a trend.

 

[56 Years No Cup]

Naz ain't goin' thru the motions. He's going thru the Loco-Motions.

 

[mapleleaf979]

Kadri has no linemates, anywhere close to his level. Brown and Marleau are 4th liners who cant make plays nor hold onto the puck for any length of time. If Kadri works to fill lanes and get open, its a waste of time, the puck is not getting to him. If Mitch Marner was put with Kadri for the rest of the year, Kadri would go on a tear. Bracco has the IQ and vision to mesh with Kadri as a possible future linemate.

 

[Leaf Lander]

kadri has to bring it

and it has to be now

 

[The Apologist]

kadri has to bring it

and it has to be now

Nope. At this point it has to be round one. And I'm sure he will. I hope some others decide to show up too.

 

[Gary Nylund]

kadri has to bring it

and it has to be now

Nah. Two weeks from now will do just fine.

 

[CelticDruid]

It's not a matter of fault, it's a matter of context. Linemates always matter, for example, I'm pretty sure Bergeron wouldn't have the best line in the NHL with two random wingers, it's just common sense.


Yeah context, got it!

From Bergeron and the best line in the NHL to Kadri not being able to drive a third line centre role against weaker opposition- got it!



The bottom line is that Kadri cannot drive a line and that is also evident for all that care to see.

Most of Leaf nation wants him to get out of his funk, or at least show that he cares. All we get is that solemn face staring into oblivion like he just lost his puppy.

He needs to start smacking people around and getting in there faces and then the goals will come.

 

[Gary Nylund]

CelticDruid: you got your quotes mixed up somehow.

Bergeron was just an example, no need to get your panties all twisted over it. Linemates aren't the entire equation but they're a part of it, a very obvious part. But if you think that a line of Tavares/Lindholm/Marleau would be just as good as Tavares/Marner/Hyman or Matthews would do just as well with two random players instead of Nylander and Kapanen/Johnsson then you're certainly entitled to your opinion.

 

[Trapper]

S
Goes to show how important it is to develop you’re own. They were scouting teams heavily but I’m glad they didn’t overpay. When healthy and if utilized properly I don’t think our d is that bad at all

We currently stand to lose 2 playing in the top 4.
We are in a phase now where we are a contender while developing.
It’s the reason young guys can come into Boston behind Bergeron/Marchand/Chara and everybody says where did they find these guys.
It’s the luxury and benefit of bringing guys along at the right stage of the lineup at the right time.

Rielly...Pesce
Muzzin...Zaitsev
Allow Dermott/Lily more time in the 3rd pair. Then Dermott can move up for Muzzin when Rielly needs a raise and Sandin comes in. Lily moves up for Zaitsev.
It’s the natural progression.

The same at forward. Players like Bracco start well behind the stars and move up at the pace they should.

They also win while learning instead of finishing last most times like Edmonton.
It’s a natural evolution.

 

[Pookie]

The Kadri bashing at this point is pointless.

He's our player. He's declining yes. Not because of wingers. Not because of usage. Simply because that's what NHL players do after they reach their peak. He's still a great NHL player. He's got a good contract even with his decline but will probably be moved in the summer for cap reasons.

Our only choice for this upcoming playoff is to boo or to support. Odds of winning are much better with support and positivity so that's where I am aligning.

 

[CelticDruid]

CelticDruid: you got your quotes mixed up somehow.

Bergeron was just an example, no need to get your panties all twisted over it. Linemates aren't the entire equation but they're a part of it, a very obvious part. But if you think that a line of Tavares/Lindholm/Marleau would be just as good as Tavares/Marner/Hyman or Matthews would do just as well with two random players instead of Nylander and Kapanen/Johnsson then you're certainly entitled to your opinion.

I'm not wearing any panties.

PS Not in a twisted mood at all.

 

[Trapper]

yah well i've stopped hoping for that.
the leafs best bet would have been to trade Kadri who had amazing value, on a great deal this summer for defense - for the fact that Naz's production was hampered being moved down to the third line. We could have gotten a third line centre who is actually used to little minutes to produce, and boom. we're cooking. and it's nothing against Naz. it just made the most sense for this team to do.

but our GM thinks our defense is underrated and people think we can just Pittsburgh this out, so who knows if we'll ever really make strides to improve our defense on either the back end or on the wings/middle.

It’s a reality now Daisy.
You can’t hide from it.
By choosing all of the 3 + JT, you can’t afford the mid tier.
As for D, I think Dubas is going to get a good bullish look see very shortly.

 

[56 Years No Cup]

I'm not wearing any panties.

 

[Alerion]

Kadri on cue with a gorgeous pass

 

[Gary Nylund]

That was indeed awesome, wasn't it!!

 

[ULF_55]

No they aren't.

They've had Vezina level keeping from Andersen, and own the puck on attack quite a bit, but in their own zone they're atrocious.

Their defense is offense, and when it isn't clicking and Andersen isn't stealing they're aren't bad they're dreadful.

If you're watching the game ... they aren't good defensively as per normal.

 

[Cap'n Flavour]

What is it about Kadri that inspires people to start new pointless threads rehashing the same old shit every week?

 

[67Leafs67]

Honestly, I think Kadri has done very well this season all things considered.

First of all, remember that early season injuries/contract disputes had Naz stuck playing with a rotating cast of wingers, most often being the likes of Brown & Lindholm. If anything is going to absolutely kill your chances of scoring a goal, that is it. He only had Nylander on his line for a brief time, and unfortunately, they couldn't score a whole lot, even though they were generating tons of chances. I guarantee that if he had a full season of Nylander or Marner on his wing, he would have hit 30 goals again. Even now, he is playing with Marleau, who has killed offense this season, and Kapanen, who has great speed for transition play, and a good knack for scoring, but is far from a talented set up man for Naz. In 16-17, he had Nylander for 1/2 the season, and in 17-18 he had Marner for half the season (plus Marleau was much better).

Secondly, he only has 4 goals on the powerplay this season. Compare that to 12 in each of the previous two seasons. Frankly, the new PP set up has a) not been as lethal as last season's, and b) does not utilize Naz in the high slot nearly as much. Most of our PP goals have been JT digging in front, or Matthews sniping from the left circle. That little kick back into the high slot has not been used much, and Kadri has been a bit of a ghost at times on that unit (personally, I'd love for a right handed shot to be on the 1st unit for a 1 timer option in the slot, and throw Kadri onto the 2nd unit in a more active role). But if you add an extra 8 goals to Kadri's totals, he's suddenly at 23 in 67 games, with 47 points and we probably aren't having this conversation.

Thirdly, he's had his own struggles. He was injured for a while, and has missed games. He's also had a bad shooting percentage, which is just purely luck. He's shooting at 9% this season. His career is 11.6%. The last two seasons have been 13.6% and 15.2%. His shot rates are down in total (which is probably due to the first point, lack of good wingers), but he's still on pace for a 200+ shot season over 82 games. Substitute in last year's shooting percentage, and he would have 25 goals this season and 49 points. Over an 82 game pace, that would be a 31 goal, 29 assist, 60 point season. Pretty similar to the last two seasons.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Good game by him tonight. I hope he builds on it

 

[moon111]

New flash, Kadri doesn't score as much when the winger with the 4th highest assists in the NHL isn't on his wing.

Think fans have to ask themselves what they want. Entertainment or a Championship?
And when it comes to Kadri, you have to ask, is he scoring or is he winning?
Tavares is the big talk, scored four goals. Both him and Kadri ended up a +1. See how that works? 4-3 = 1-0?

 

[zeke]

No they aren't.

They've had Vezina level keeping from Andersen, and own the puck on attack quite a bit, but in their own zone they're atrocious.

Their defense is offense, and when it isn't clicking and Andersen isn't stealing they're aren't bad they're dreadful.

Andy is not really close to a vezina candidate, unfortunately.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Even Strength Line Combinations

Freq	Line Combination
26.4	KADRI,NAZEM - KAPANEN,KASPERI - MARLEAU,PATRICK
13	BROWN,CONNOR - KADRI,NAZEM - NYLANDER,WILLIAM
10.7	KADRI,NAZEM - MARLEAU,PATRICK - NYLANDER,WILLIAM
9.5	BROWN,CONNOR - KADRI,NAZEM - LINDHOLM,PAR
7.7	BROWN,CONNOR - KADRI,NAZEM - MARLEAU,PATRICK
3.8	KADRI,NAZEM - MARLEAU,PATRICK - MARNER,MITCHELL
3	JOHNSSON,ANDREAS - KADRI,NAZEM - NYLANDER,WILLIAM
2.8	BROWN,CONNOR - KADRI,NAZEM - LEIVO,JOSH
2.1	BROWN,CONNOR - JOHNSSON,ANDREAS - KADRI,NAZEM
1.5	BROWN,CONNOR - KADRI,NAZEM - KAPANEN,KASPERI

[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

For Matthews and Tavares ...
which D are they usually paired with ?