Is Nazem Kadri a bust

When Nazem Kadri was sent down to the Marlies earlier this season I began thinking this kid is a bust. You would have expected him to tear up after almost making the Leafs. Instead he went into a scoring funk going a couple of weeks without scoring a goal.

He has recently come alive scoring 6 goals and 17 points over 12 games in November earning player of the month recognition. He now is in a three way tie for the Marlies scoring lead along with Marcel Mueller and Mike Zigomanis. This may make Leafs fans some what optomistic again about Kadri`s future. But you need to remember the NHL and, in particular the Maple Leafs, also has a long history of players with great numbers in the minor who cannot make it as a regular in the NHL.

Each year there are 5 or 6 18-year old players who stick it out with their NHL club. We tend to forget that for the remainder of drafted players it takes several years to be a regular in the NHL. Kadri is only 21 years old which is too early to write him off. In fact before the Burke era there were plenty of Junior age players who made it to with the Leafs well before they were ready for the NHL. In most cases the outcome was not pretty.

Patience is what Kadri needs from Leafs Nation right now. Lets hope he rewards us.