Nazem Kadri takes his AHL demotion in stride
Nazem Kadri was positive one day after learning about his demotion to the American Hockey League. The youngster came to Toronto Maple Leafs training camp with high hopes and was expected by many to be the club’s number three centre for the 2010-11 season.
Unfortunately, he did not play at a high enough level through the pre-season, and was sent down to the Leafs AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.
Despite the fact that the 20-year-old was sent down to the AHL, he seemed excited to get started with the Marlies and work his way back up the ranks, in the hopes of joining the Maple Leafs before the end of the season.
Kardi spoke about his demotion, saying, “I took it very positively, I think. I had a meeting with [Brian Burke and Ron Wilson] and they basically just told me to keep my head up, keep doing what I’m doing. That I’m not quite ready just yet, which is understandable.”
Burke was fairly adamant throughout the course of the pre-season that Kadri’s play was not good enough for the NHL and that he was likely to be sent down to the AHL for the 2010-11 campaign.
Nevertheless, Burke had some kind words for the youngster, stating, “I think Nazem has accepted what’s gone on here, that he’s made his own bed. He’s been very mature about it. I think he’s been wonderful with you folks (the media), dealing with all this
stuff. And if I could go back to the draft and you give me the microphone again, I would take Nazem Kadri again.”
Burke has a history of putting youngsters in the AHL, giving them more time to develop. While he was in Anaheim, he placed Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan in the AHL for extended periods before they were deemed ready to be in the NHL.
Last season, while playing for the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights, Kadri managed 35 goals and 58 assists for 93 points in 56 games.
Tags: