What Nazem Kadri's new contract should look like
The two players the Leafs need to focus on re-signing this offseason are forward Nazem Kadri and goaltender Jonathan Bernier. Kadri, however, has been a controversial player in Toronto who has both on-ice and off-ice issues that could devalue his contract.
So what should Kadri's new contract look like? Maple Leafs fan website Editor in Leaf had a pair of writers try their hand at GM duties, and neither seemed interest in giving Kadri the benefit of the doubt.
"He gets a slight raise to go with one more year to prove himself," Jeff Langridge wrote. "It’s been six years since he was drafted. It’s been long enough for him to prove that he can be something more."
Fellow Editor in Leaf writer Tim Chiasson was only slightly more generous.
"Kadri’s a valuable player to the Leafs moving forward – providing he can get his off-ice issues in order and avoid the ire of Brendan Shanahan," Chiasson wrote. "The Leafs are in the stronger negotiating position with his low offensive totals this year and the team-imposed suspension. My deal for Kadri would be two years, $9M – $4.5 AAV. I think he’s worth that and it will give the Leafs a chance to move him if they desire and, more importantly, motivate him for his next contract. He’s going to rebound and be better offensively next year and I don’t think Toronto should hand him back negotiating momentum that soon."
(h/t Editor in Leaf)
