Big Read: Mike Babcock will turn Nazem Kadri into a star

[bustaheims]

Just a random tidbit that I found after re-reading my last post, Steen actually played for 6 different head coaches in his first 8 years in the NHL (Quinn, Maurice, Wilson, Murray, Payne, Hitchcock). Seems like he played his best hockey once St. Louis finally got some consistency in Hitchcock.

Pretty easy to spot the parallels there with Kadri too.

It's amazing what can happen when you have a coach that sees the potential and value in a young player. Carlyle did at times with Kadri - it's one of the few things he did well as the Leafs' coach - but Babcock has definitely helped him develop a better overall game.

 

[rdowdall]

Just a random tidbit that I found after re-reading my last post, Steen actually played for 6 different head coaches in his first 8 years in the NHL (Quinn, Maurice, Wilson, Murray, Payne, Hitchcock). Seems like he played his best hockey once St. Louis finally got some consistency in Hitchcock.

Pretty easy to spot the parallels there with Kadri too.

It's amazing what can happen when you have a coach that sees the potential and value in a young player. Carlyle did at times with Kadri - it's one of the few things he did well as the Leafs' coach - but Babcock has definitely helped him develop a better overall game.

I think that development impacts the offensive side of their game as well.  Until the player gets comfortable knowing when and where they can go full out on offense, they seem a little tentative, and making some plays that they don't generally make because they are afraid of having the puck come back up the ice and having a goal scored on them.  I think it's up to the coach to handle that aspect of the growth properly.

 

[Highlander]

I think Kadri is arguable the best forward on the team and must be part of our core going forward.
The ones I would like to remain with the team are: Kadri, Holland, Rielly, Gardiner and Reimer (who I believe has the best save % right now.

 

[sickbeast]

I think Kadri is arguable the best forward on the team and must be part of our core going forward.
The ones I would like to remain with the team are: Kadri, Holland, Rielly, Gardiner and Reimer (who I believe has the best save % right now.

I can live with that.  I would be OK with more of a scorched earth rebuild, however, if the right deal came up.  Kadri is doing much better this season but up until now he has been an enigma and also last year he was publicly called out by the organization for God knows what.  Gardiner is a bit of a mixed bag as well.  He started out great but now he has somehow regressed.  He looks nervous to me this year, I'm not sure why.  Reimer I really like.  Reilly I like even more.  So, yes, I can live with those guys going forward.  It will be interesting to see what happens.  Actually the most pleasant surprise for me this season has been Phaneuf.