Nazem Kadri Finally Reveals What Really Happened with the Toronto Maple Leafs Management Before His Trade

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Chris Gerics
October 24, 2024 (9:33)

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Nazem Kadri's new book 'Dreamer: My Life on the Edge' delves into the NHL player's life so far, and now we learn how his departure from the Maple Leafs came to be.

Nazem Kadri spent the first decade of his NHL career as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs after being drafted 7th overall by the club in 2009. He put together a solid career with Toronto, scoring 357 points in 561 games including back-to-back 32-goal seasons in 2016 and 2017. After a sudden end to his Maple Leafs tenure following a trade to Colorado, Kadri turned into one of the top forwards in the entire league. His issues with Leafs management were a big talking point during his time in Toronto and he hasn't shied away from his opinions on them.

So with the release of his new book, Dreamer: My Life on the Edge, Kadri delves deep into his growing up, hockey career, and fatherhood. A portion of the book was dedicated to Kadri explaining the hurt and resentment he felt towards the Maple Leafs after they lied to him about his future with the team. Below is a snippet from the book explaining Kadri's end with Toronto:

Excerpt From Kadri's Time With The Maple Leafs

After the Maple Leafs' elimination to Boston and Nazem Kadri's suspension, Kadri was called into a meeting with the coaching staff and management. He was reassured that he was still part of the team's plans, and they discussed what he needed to focus on for the upcoming season. Similar messages were later communicated to him by other members of the Leafs' leadership.

At this time, Kadri's wife was nine months pregnant, and they were expecting their first child any day. The couple needed stability, making the uncertainty difficult. Unexpectedly, Kadri began receiving calls and messages from Calgary Flames players and management, trying to convince him to join their team.

Kadri had not been informed by the Leafs that he was being shopped to Calgary. It was his agent who broke the news, explaining that the Flames were interested in a deal. However, Calgary was on Kadri's 12-team no-trade list, and he vetoed the move.

News of the situation spread among Leafs players, causing concern and frustration. Kadri had to reassure his teammates that everything was fine, despite the behind-the-scenes turmoil. Eventually, Kadri was traded to the Colorado Avalanche-a team not on his no-trade list, meaning he couldn't block the move. Just days after the trade, Kadri's wife gave birth, and they had to quickly relocate to Colorado with their newborn.

This marked the end of Kadri's time in Toronto, with the trade ultimately becoming a significant turning point in his career.

Toronto's Disrespectful Message

If the Maple Leafs hadn't lied to Kadri about him being a member of the team and not quietly shopping him around to other teams, who knows the success Toronto could have reached with him, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares, and company.

For one thing, it's disrespectful to lie to a player in any situation, but to tell them they have a stable spot on the roster and are a key part going forward while they have a wife about to give birth is inexcusable and abhorrent on the Maple Leafs' behalf. The last thing Kadri needed in his life was any extra stress, and the fact he had to learn from his agent breaking the news instead of from management themselves is a testament to how little Toronto actually thought of Kadri.

Toronto's management at the time was headed by current Penguins GM Kyle Dubas, and the fact that Kadri meant so little to the team they needed to go ahead and give him the run-around is baffling. Kadri was a household name in Toronto and was a big part of the Maple Leafs' identity at the time; getting rid of him solved nothing and only added chaos.

Kadri blossomed into a star after leaving Toronto even though he was already one of the league's better players. Scoring 291 points over the next six seasons, he's been a key factor in both Colorado's playoff success and Calgary's cusp of breaking out. It's a shame what Toronto did to Kadri but it seems to have given him extra motivation to not only perform better but give a little extra pep whenever he gets to play the Maple Leafs.