Where is Kadri and what's going on with his development?

[CarltonTheBear]

I know I am supposed to downplay all positive news as really meaning little-to-nothing, but if this works I think we owe Gary Roberts some hugs and kisses for asking Kadri to join his program.  Maybe he doesn't hate the Leafs after all.

I'm still not convinced it's not a sabotage program. But yeah, Gary contacting Kadri about this was the thing that stuck out for me there.

 

[moon111]

Roberts could also be doing this to show how much better his work is then what the Leafs are currently doing.

 

[jonlleafs]

Every morning, Kadri gets us and heads to Gary Roberts gym north of Toronto. There he works out, sometimes until he vomits, picks up the meals have been prepared specially for him and heads out on his day.

?Gary contacted me in March or April and asked me if I wanted undertake the program,? Kadri said. ?For me, this was the next step. I like to think I?m a pretty smart hockey player. I want to have every tool that is out there to succeed.?

Kadri had to wait to rehab a shoulder he injured in the Marlies post season. He scored three goals and added seven assists, good for 10 points in 11 games.

?Everything is set up to the last detail. Every day I go to the gym, go to the fridge, get my meals and chow down.?

?Once you get over the first few days you feel great and that?s the feeling that keeps you going. In the first few weeks I would excuse myself, go yak, and then get back to working out. After you pull the trigger you feel great.?

http://blog.mapleleafs.com/three-internal-candidates-eyeing-number-one-centre-role/


I hope we hang onto this guy. I think he's ready to make the jump.  I like the confidence he has in himself, let's hope this is his breakout season.

Even more interesting to me is that Colborne is still growing at age 22.  Holy moly.

I like Kadri but in my Dreamworld Colborne  steps up to become the real heir to Sundin, JVR take the #2C, Bozak the #3C, and Kadri goes to the wing on the 1st or 2nd line.

I need to see a lot more from Colborne before I pencil him in as anything more than a 3rd line centre.  39 points in 65 games in the AHL doesn't translate to top 6.  He has the size and possibly the hands for top 6 hockey but he needs to show it in the minors before I see him anywhere near the top 6.

Reports were that he was injured for most of the season and playing hurt.  I think it was his wrist.  So, I'm hoping that's the reason why he had such a low production after the hot start.

 

[maplesyrup]

Every morning, Kadri gets us and heads to Gary Roberts gym north of Toronto. There he works out, sometimes until he vomits, picks up the meals have been prepared specially for him and heads out on his day.

?Gary contacted me in March or April and asked me if I wanted undertake the program,? Kadri said. ?For me, this was the next step. I like to think I?m a pretty smart hockey player. I want to have every tool that is out there to succeed.?

Kadri had to wait to rehab a shoulder he injured in the Marlies post season. He scored three goals and added seven assists, good for 10 points in 11 games.

?Everything is set up to the last detail. Every day I go to the gym, go to the fridge, get my meals and chow down.?

?Once you get over the first few days you feel great and that?s the feeling that keeps you going. In the first few weeks I would excuse myself, go yak, and then get back to working out. After you pull the trigger you feel great.?

http://blog.mapleleafs.com/three-internal-candidates-eyeing-number-one-centre-role/


I hope we hang onto this guy. I think he's ready to make the jump.  I like the confidence he has in himself, let's hope this is his breakout season.

Even more interesting to me is that Colborne is still growing at age 22.  Holy moly.

I like Kadri but in my Dreamworld Colborne  steps up to become the real heir to Sundin, JVR take the #2C, Bozak the #3C, and Kadri goes to the wing on the 1st or 2nd line.

I need to see a lot more from Colborne before I pencil him in as anything more than a 3rd line centre.  39 points in 65 games in the AHL doesn't translate to top 6.  He has the size and possibly the hands for top 6 hockey but he needs to show it in the minors before I see him anywhere near the top 6.

FWIW, since I follow him on twitter, here's Corey Pronman's recent analysis of Colborne:

Colborne is a very skilled all-around player. He's a solid to above-average skater who's well above-average for a 6'5" forward. He has a fluid stride that lets him accelerate pretty effortlessly and gets to a desirable top speed. He's very agile for his size and displays good shiftiness from a standstill. Colborne thinks the game at a plus level, with tremendous vision and instincts. Sources call Colborne a very imaginative playmaker who makes plays through the tightest of seams that most players don't try to attempt. He can handle the puck at an above-average level and he's pretty coordinated with the puck for his size. Colborne is a plus shooter who can dial it up well and can score from just about anywhere in the offensive zone, although he has a pass-first mentality and doesn't use that weapon as much as he should. He has a massive frame and can bulldoze through opponents when he chooses to exert himself physically.

The Bad: Colborne's main weakness has always been questions about his physical game. His game has a bit of a quiet, lazy look to it and his physical effort is inconsistent. He's not a non-existent physical player, as he will at times go along the wall and to the front of the net and will look dominant when doing so, and then other times he will simply be a spectator from the sideboards.

Projection: An average to below-average first line center who safely projects as an above-average second line center.

http://www.puckprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=1052

I'll take that.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

From seeing Pronman answer people on twitter, he likes Colborne's upside more than Kadri's.  I haven't watched either enough the last couple years to make too informed of a comment on it, but he seems to do this stuff for a living so I think he has some credibility in saying that.  But maybe it's just the size that seduces everyone.

 

[Britishbulldog]

From seeing Pronman answer people on twitter, he likes Colborne's upside more than Kadri's.  I haven't watched either enough the last couple years to make too informed of a comment on it, but he seems to do this stuff for a living so I think he has some credibility in saying that.  But maybe it's just the size that seduces everyone.

I am hoping 2013 that Grabovski is #1, Colborne is #2, Bozak is #3 and Steckel is re-signed as #4.  Kadri and McClement can play the wings.

 

[maplesyrup]

I wonder if Kadri is skipping Ramadan as part of his training as other Muslim athletes are doing during the Olympics. I heard many of them are either bumping it or doing charitable work in lieu of it. It's not important or anything but it's just something that crossed my mind. I'm just interested to know how or if Roberts was able to accommodate him.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

Roberts could also be doing this to show how much better his work is then what the Leafs are currently doing.

That was my thought.  I think Roberts has publicly criticised the way the Leafs develop players and I could see him doing this to spite the Leafs.

 

[Zee]

Roberts could also be doing this to show how much better his work is then what the Leafs are currently doing.

That was my thought.  I think Roberts has publicly criticised the way the Leafs develop players and I could see him doing this to spite the Leafs.

How is trying to make Kadri a better player spiting the Leafs?  Wouldn't it make more sense for him to train a recently traded Leaf like Schenn who then goes on to Norris contention and gives a tearful thank you speech to Gary Roberts?  TV close up of Roberts who puts his best smile and wink troll face to anger Leafs fans...

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Kadri talks a little bit about how Carlyle wanted him to finish the season with the Leafs but couldn't because of the call-up rule:

http://kylethereporter.com/2012/08/08/kadri-looks-at-carlyle-as-a-second-chance/

 

[dappleganger]

Roberts could also be doing this to show how much better his work is then what the Leafs are currently doing.

That was my thought.  I think Roberts has publicly criticised the way the Leafs develop players and I could see him doing this to spite the Leafs.

How is trying to make Kadri a better player spiting the Leafs?  Wouldn't it make more sense for him to train a recently traded Leaf like Schenn who then goes on to Norris contention and gives a tearful thank you speech to Gary Roberts?  TV close up of Roberts who puts his best smile and wink troll face to anger Leafs fans...

Roberts wanted to train someone with potential.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Roberts wanted to train someone with potential.

I really do think that Schenn will make most that doubt him wish he was never moved.

 

[dappleganger]

Roberts wanted to train someone with potential.

I really do think that Schenn will make most that doubt him wish he was never moved.

I think after 20 games no one is going to miss ol' Leadfoot Luke.

I know I'm being overly critical of the guy (in jest) but he's a 4th-6th defencemen. I don't see anything changing that and there is nothing wrong with that. But the second coming of Adam Foote, as some touted, he is not.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Roberts wanted to train someone with potential.

I really do think that Schenn will make most that doubt him wish he was never moved.

I think after 20 games no one is going to miss ol' Leadfoot Luke.

I know I'm being overly critical of the guy (in jest) but he's a 4th-6th defencemen. I don't see anything changing that and there is nothing wrong with that. But the second coming of Adam Foote, as some touted, he is not.

I guess we'll wait and see....Slow footed yes, but without potential, he is not.

 

[dappleganger]

Roberts wanted to train someone with potential.

I really do think that Schenn will make most that doubt him wish he was never moved.

I think after 20 games no one is going to miss ol' Leadfoot Luke.

I know I'm being overly critical of the guy (in jest) but he's a 4th-6th defencemen. I don't see anything changing that and there is nothing wrong with that. But the second coming of Adam Foote, as some touted, he is not.

I guess we'll wait and see....Slow footed yes, but without potential, he is not.

Yeah, we shall see. Everyone has potential but how high is the ceiling? 

I think Luke has reached his potential. Last year, I never saw the diamond hiding under the coal. Coal is still a valuable commodity. Coal will keep you warm at night but it ain't got the sparkle of a Gardiner, er, I mean, diamond.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Roberts wanted to train someone with potential.

I really do think that Schenn will make most that doubt him wish he was never moved.

I think after 20 games no one is going to miss ol' Leadfoot Luke.

I know I'm being overly critical of the guy (in jest) but he's a 4th-6th defencemen. I don't see anything changing that and there is nothing wrong with that. But the second coming of Adam Foote, as some touted, he is not.

I guess we'll wait and see....Slow footed yes, but without potential, he is not.

Yeah, we shall see. Everyone has potential but how high is the ceiling? 

I think Luke has reached his potential. Last year, I never saw the diamond hiding under the coal. Coal is still a valuable commodity. Coal will keep you warm at night but it ain't got the sparkle of a Gardiner, er, I mean, diamond.

Schenn had 2 fairly good years in the NHL to start his career. He has since taken a step back in development and has slotted himself into that 5/6 role  that you speak of. That does not mean he will not or can not rebound.

Gardiner has had 1 fairly good year in the NHL and you're already anointing him a star(diamond).

Do you forget how high people were on Schenn during that first season. Many fans were calling for rookie of the year honors. Many said he'd be the next captain of this team.

Gardiner can just as easily take a step back and you'll be selling him down the river as well.

Leaf fans are the definition of short term memories.

 

[maplesyrup]

Leaf fans are the definition of short term memories.

We have to be.

 

[dappleganger]

Roberts wanted to train someone with potential.

I really do think that Schenn will make most that doubt him wish he was never moved.

I think after 20 games no one is going to miss ol' Leadfoot Luke.

I know I'm being overly critical of the guy (in jest) but he's a 4th-6th defencemen. I don't see anything changing that and there is nothing wrong with that. But the second coming of Adam Foote, as some touted, he is not.

I guess we'll wait and see....Slow footed yes, but without potential, he is not.

Yeah, we shall see. Everyone has potential but how high is the ceiling? 

I think Luke has reached his potential. Last year, I never saw the diamond hiding under the coal. Coal is still a valuable commodity. Coal will keep you warm at night but it ain't got the sparkle of a Gardiner, er, I mean, diamond.

Schenn had 2 fairly good years in the NHL to start his career. He has since taken a step back in development and has slotted himself into that 5/6 role  that you speak of. That does not mean he will not or can not rebound.

Gardiner has had 1 fairly good year in the NHL and you're already anointing him a star(diamond).

Schenn rebounding? To be as good as he was as a rookie? He needs to solidify himself as a shutdown defender which is hard to do when you play defense poorly. The Leafs penalty kill will be better this year because Schenn won't be anywhere near it.

Schenn had a promising rookie season. His second season was up and down. 3rd and 4th were disappointing.

I'll make it clear I'm not calling Gardiner a star, he still has lots of coal on him, if I can go with that analogy, but I can see the flashes of potential for him being a lot better than he is now.

Do you forget how high people were on Schenn during that first season. Many fans were calling for rookie of the year honors. Many said he'd be the next captain of this team.

Speaking of short term memories, you seem to have forgotten that two posts ago I mentioned how people were calling Schenn the next Adam Foote. (People were also calling out Scott Stevens clone but that lost traction pretty quick)

I wasn't one of those people. If the old site was up you'd see I've been calling for his head for years. 

Gardiner can just as easily take a step back and you'll be selling him down the river as well.

Leaf fans are the definition of short term memories.

Players I back: Kadri, Kulemin, Gustavsson. Whether they succeed or fizzle is unknown. I see potential in those players to be a lot better than what they currently are. I'll pull for them.

There was a reason Schenn isn't on this team anymore and it's not because of the question mark that is JVR, although I'm high on him. (see: Gadiner, Jake)

Schenn wasn't good enough.

I'll try to get back on topic. What is Schenn's ceiling?

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Gunnarsson not Gustavsson, right?

 

[dappleganger]

Gunnarsson not Gustavsson, right?

No, I was wrong about Gustavsson. He showed signs. I'm curious how he fairs in Detroit. I'm pulling for him.