As it stands, the Leafs are way too deep a team for Nazem Kadri to make the big club right out of camp. I think we can all agree on this. Mitch Gleaves points this out at Maple Leafs Central:
Kadri may have been able to develop playing on the third line, but now keeping in mind that a typical Randy Carlyle third line is a shut-down line, it seems that Kadri is out of luck. (He will not play on the fourth line; let’s not go there.)
In order to have any type of outside shot to make the Leafs and stay there, Kadri will have to play the wing. He’ll also need to have an outstanding training camp, while hoping that someone else falls off the radar. Of course trades could come into play, but as of right now, Kadri is in tough.
Personally, I think there's a very, very slim chance that the Leafs go into the season with all the forwards they currently have. Currently, the team has too many centres: Tyler Bozak, Tim Conolly, Mikhail Grabovski, Matthew Lombardi, David Steckel, Jay McClement, and they're saying that James van Riemsdyk is going to get a shot at "C". No way they're all in the lineup come Game 1 - whenever that is.
Logjam aside, the biggest barrier to Kadri making the Leafs is the fact that he is still exempt from waivers. Why would the Leafs risk losing a forward like Leo Komarov to waivers (especially on re-entry) if they could just stash Kadri in the minors until a few more people get dealt?
Plenty more links after the jump. Hope you all had an excellent long weekend.
A straightforward 10-question Maple Leaf Q&A
Michael Langlois has a list of questions for your consideration.
Leafs prospects in action this week
Cam Charron has the rundown at The Leafs Nation.
What We Learned: Maybe Mike Gillis was serious
Ryan Lambert is starting to wonder if Gillis is actually considering starting the season with Luongo on the roster.
Canucks’ Manny Malhotra, Jason Garrison, mascot Fin march in Vancouver Pride parade
Good on them. Harrison Mooney has some footage of the event.
The Malik Report : According to Capgeek, the Red Wings have signed Tomas Jurco to an entry-level contract
This article is actually from Kukla's Korner, but the deal is for 3 years, and he'll head to the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Fehr says still sufficient time to get NHL deal done
"I still think if the parties are dedicated to it, there's sufficient time to reach an agreement," said Fehr. Story from John Wawrow at the AP.
The Free World
Ellen Etchingham discovers what a release hockey can be from the real world.
Alex Ovechkin’s girlfriend won an Olympic bronze medal, and Ovy is PUMPED
He's been posting photos from "backstage" at the Olympics for a few days, it seems. From JB at BHS.
Downtime with BizNasty: Part one, "Cribs" edition
You might actually be surprised at how he lives. From Justin Bourne at BHS.
