16 Feb 2016 22:13:17
Heard from friends who have ties with Nick Spaling that the team is preparing to trade Nazeem Kadri. I speculated on this in a earlier post that Kadri is an expendable commodity with Nylander, Marner coming in next year, tyler bozak (even though most believe he'll be traded aswell), the possibility of drafting Auston Matthews, then the possibility of signing Stamkos on July 1st. Here are a few possibilities that could happen to Kadri.
1)Kadri is traded for another asset who is young but fits into another need for the Leafs organization, ie big winger, defenceman or goaltender. I like to think kadri can be swapped for pieces like Anthony Mantha in Detroit or Kerby Rychel in Columbus, with more involved obviously in terms of players and picks.
2)Kadri is used in a trade with the Tampa bay Lightning essentially swapping negotiation rights for Kadri and Stamkos so that the leafs can sign Steven to a max 8 year deal and the Lightning not losing him for nothing and receive an asset back which they can resign to a value better suited to the make-up of their roster. I think this would resolve another issue with Jonathan Drouin, where he will have the chance to mesh with another player who can fit into either 2nd or 1st line.
3)The Maple Leafs keep Kadri and commit atleast $5.25m per year for atleast 3 years. Kadri has now played in the top line and has committed himself as a professional and deserving of 1st line pay. I believe this to be the riskiest of decisions. Kadri could lose value being a side show to the youth movement in Toronto, with his value peaked from encouragement from the organization and coaching staff, it probably won't be the same within the term of Kadri's next contract when he's playing in the shadows of Nylander, Marner and whoever we draft this year. That being said, i'm a huge fan of Nazeem Kadri, but the plan and movement of the Leafs, who i'm a bigger fan of, might not be well suited for each other.

My proposals for option 1

Kadri, Polak, Nikita Korostelev
To Detroit for
Brad Richards, Kyle Quincy, Anthony Mantha, 2016 2nd

Detroit doesn't make anything but pure hockey trades. They recieve upgrades in richards and quincy for Anthony Mantha but lose a 2nd to upgrade but receive project prospect Korostelev. This allows the red wings to not demote any roster player and risk losing them to waivers. With the number of picks the Leafs have the next two years, they have to take advantage of the value young prospects have which are unsigned, if Toronto wanted to sign Nikita to an entry level they would have already. This makinng him expendable, and Leafs recieve two pending UFA's that can play the remainder of the season, Richards being a big name to keep leaf fans interested.

Kadri, 5th round pick.
To Columbus for
Kerby Rychel, Rene Bourque

Columbus has a hole left by them swapping Ryan Johansen for Seth Jones but have assets to recover a positional need. Kadri isn't Johansen but can play in those slots. Rychel has asked to be moved and fills positional needs for Toronto. With Kadri an RFA this offseason the Blue Jackets will have to fork over some money to him therefore they send Rene Bourque to save money now. Bourque is a pending UFA but with him off their payroll now they can save dollars which they can put into Kadri. Toronto Doesn't send another player but a pick because they don't have any risk of losing a roster player because they can send Rychel down to the AHL freely with his entry level contract and losing rene bourque to waivers wouldn't be the end of the world. Colubus doesn't own a 4th or 5th selection this year.

1.) 17 Feb 2016
17 Feb 2016 01:57:17
Mantha way overrated has fallen off a cliff last two sons want a number 1 pick this yr draft Kadri

2.) 17 Feb 2016
17 Feb 2016 02:09:16
Hmmm . STOP just STOP

3.) 17 Feb 2016
17 Feb 2016 04:10:37
any type of of back up for your opinion kumar? Why don't u Give some actual input instead of just being a hater. Year after year its harder to get first round picks. Most GM's are being cautious on trading their first round picks cause too many times those picks have turned into great pro's. Kadri isn't the type of player that warrants a 1st round pick for. Obviously depends on the other teams situation and roster comstruction and needs. But getting a prospect drafted in the first round and an additional 1st round pick for kadri is a dream I wish could be a reality.

4.) 17 Feb 2016
17 Feb 2016 15:48:42
How would Spaling be privy to what is going on within the Leafs braintrust, that he would divulge what is happening in dealings with Kadri. You have highly over-active synaptic brain function

5.) 18 Feb 2016
18 Feb 2016 05:51:32
You make some interesting points about the role Kadri will have in the future of the Leafs. Personally, I am inclined to sign him to a three or four year deal. I would have nylander play on his wing (to get acclimatized to the nhl) until Bozak is traded in a year or two, at which time nylander fills that role at centre, learning the ropes until he fully replaces kadri (sorry this is under the potentially false assumption that they draft Matthews). As for trading Kadri, I do not believe the deals you cited are enough. I am not a Matha fan but love Rychel, though he only projects to be a 2nd or 3rd line LW. The Blue Jackets would have to offer more than just a cap dump in Bourque. Who knows how this will all play out. I never saw the Phaneuf trade coming so who knows what they have up their sleeve