Leafs News: Kadri to wing, Raymond to sign extension

Bozak set to return, Holland surging in faceoff circle

Based upon his last 5 games, Nazem Kadri may have to get used to taking some shifts on the wing. Here are his numbers:

DEC 27 '13 BUF @ TOR - 37.50%

DEC 23 '13 TOR @ NYR - 29.41%

DEC 21 '13 DET @ TOR - 28.57%

DEC 19 '13 PHX @ TOR - 20.00%

DEC 17 '13 FLA @ TOR - 36.84%


Now, here are the recent numbers for Peter Holland, a center drafted the same year as Naz (Holland went 15th overall in 2009, Kadri went 7th):

DEC 27 '13 BUF @ TOR - 72.73

DEC 23 '13 TOR @ NYR - 70.00%

DEC 21 '13 DET @ TOR - 58.33%

DEC 19 '13 PHX @ TOR  - 30.77%

DEC 17 '13 FLA @ TOR - 45.45%


Nazem is -1 with 1 point over that stretch, while Peter is +1 with 3 points. It is a small sample but may be indicative of personal momentum. With Dave Bolland out until late January, Kadri may have a wee bit of breathing room now, but if he can't get fiercer in the circle, he'll be playing on the wing for the Toronto Maple Leafs come playoffs time.

NOTE: Though all the focus has been on Phaneuf's extension (Update Jan 1: 7 years for $49 mil). Look for Mason Raymond to sign a 3-year, $9 million deal ($2.5, 3.0, 3.5 mil) before the middle of January.

2013-14 Toronto Maple Leafs face tough training camp decisions

HELLO Toronto, It's HOCKEY TIME!

Jonathan Bernier will look to prove his value to his team mates and Leafs management.


Let's first look at the horses that will be relied upon extensively:

Forwards

Lupul - Bozak - Phil Kessel 
JVR - Kadri - Clarkson

Jay McClement


Defence

Dion Phaneuf
Jake Gardner
Carl Gunnarsson


Goalies

Bernier / Reimer



The next wave should include:

Forwards

Dave Bolland
Nik Kulemin


Defence

Cody Franson (if signed soon)
Mark Fraser (with Kostka gone, more minutes for Mark)

Goal

McIntyre (if Bernier and Reimer are both healthy, will start with Marlies)



That's 17 players, so 16 Leafs if you figure Drew heads to the Marlies net. Twenty-one skaters will likely include thirteen or fourteen forwards and seven or eight defencemen, which means we need four of five forwards, plus two or three on defence, up to four if Cody Franson is not ready to start the 2013-2014 NHL season.


Main contenders:

Forwards

Joe Colborne (needs to clear waivers if sent down, so will make team or be traded)
Mason Raymond (looks like may stay, based on exhibition games)
Frazer McLaren (with Orr injured, pencil Frazer in; now they're both out)



Defence

John Michael-Liles (needs to rebound, still has top four potential)
Morgan Reilly (more likely if Franson holds out or is traded)
Paul Ranger (may be perfect 3rd pairing guy)


If you are with me up to this point, there now remains just one position open, at forward:

Carter Ashton (getting a look at filling the pest role)
Troy Brodie (depth in enforcer ranks)
Jamie Devane (will likely start with Marlies, if McLaren or Orr can be ready in time)

This thirteenth forward position may also be filled via trade or free agent signing, pushing a fourth-liner into the press box.

If there are injuries or upsets, other defencemen in the mix include Holzer, MacWilliam and Brennan.

Leafs have a lot of D contracts expiring at the end of the season, so they want Cody to sign for at least two years. If he gives up the one year idea and goes for an even bigger deal, say three or four years, then Liles would likely be moved, possibly to Calgary, to make room for Franson.

In today's NHL, you need about 30 NHLers to have a successful Stanley Cup run. Look for the Buds to add another free agent signing or two, and soon.

Kadri shines as Marlies win 3 days straight

4 goals in 3 games include 2 game winners

Nazem Kadri scored the winner with 57 seconds left this afternoon to power a 4-2 victory (Greg Scott got the empty-netter) over Grand River, less than 18 hours after scoring the only tally in a 1-0 Saturday night win versus Rochester. Friday night Kadri had 2 goals in a 5-4 road win at Rochester.

It's great to see Nazem finish the regular season so strong; it was during his 7-game scoring drought only a couple of weeks back when I named him the #1 top prospect in the Toronto Maple Leafs system, a position he remains in. I have also ranked him #5 in the list of best Toronto Maple Leafs aged 25 years old or younger.

As for the Toronto Marlies NHL affiliate, the Maple Leafs, it was nice to see them break the homestand drought last night, but from here on in let's finish with 3 losses, so we get more balls in the lottery machine.

"Yo-Yo" Kadri to face Big Bad Bruins in Boston

Mere hours after being sent down to the Toronto Marlies, injuries to Colby Armstrong and Clarke MacArthur in last night's win over Winnipeg resulted in Nazem Kadri getting called back up to the Buds. He is in Boston with the Leafs now, and is expected to play tonight against the Bruins.

Gotta love the depth Burkie has built into the 2011-2012 Toronto Maple Leafs!

Kadri to skate with #1 line tonight against Ottawa

Nazem Kadri centering Lupul and Kessel versus Senators

When Tim Connolly banged himself up crashing into the boards at practice yesterday, that noise was the sound of opportunity in the Leafs camp and it is Nazem Kadri who has been called upon to fill the whole on the potential number one line for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

As the song says, for Kadri, Tonight's The Night....


This evening's projected lineup against Ottawa Senators:

MacArthur - Grabovski - Kulemin
Lupul - Kadri - Kessel
Armstrong - Boyce - Frattin
Rosehill - Dupuis - Crabb/Orr

Gunnarsson - Phaneuf
Liles - Schenn
Aulie - Franson

Reimer