Dreger expects Leafs to trade Kadri
/Darren Dreger was on Toronto’s TSN 1050 on Monday evening.
On how difficult the assessment of Nazem Kadri becomes, given the fact that he’ll be an RFA this summer, and he’s going to want dough:
“He’s going to want it. Yeah. I would still be surprised if Nazem Kadri makes it to the trade deadline as a Toronto Maple Leaf.”
They just don’t want to deal with the bridge contract?
“No, I don’t think they’re afraid of that. And if Nazem Kadri continues to play well, and the numbers support a big pay raise, then he’s going to get that big pay raise, whether it’s in Toronto or somewhere else.
“But the comments that Nonis made during the preseason, during training camp - I think it was the first week of availability - still stick with me. And the question essentially was, ‘What does Nazem Kadri have to do to take that next step?’ And Nonis said, ‘He’s got to be consistent every single day. He’s got to prove that he can match up against the best and take that next step in a consistency level.’
“He hasn’t done that. He hasn’t done that. He’s had a lot of good nights, don’t get me wrong. But until very recently, when he was pulled off the power play, there was a clear message delivered in taking him off that power play. And he responded. Next game he was lights-out good. He was really, really good. But the reason was, again, because of that lack of consistency. The fact that he takes shortcuts. He cheats to offence. Just lots of things.
“That doesn’t sound like an organization that’s overly-committed at this point.”
Source: TSN 1050/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey