The Season
Nazem Kadri will be one of the most demanding centers on the open market. You can’t ever have too many of those on your team, and Kadri has proven he can anchor a line. After spending the better part of his early career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Dubas sent him off to Colorado. While embracing the crest and embodying what it truly meant to be a Leaf, the playoff suspensions had sent him packing. Safe to say, it worked out for him. The man is coming off a career year. In 71 games this season, he scored 28 goals, 59 assists, and 87 points. His totals were good for third on the team as he finished one point behind Nathan Mackinnon. Kadri finished with the third-best possession numbers with a Corsi For Percentage of 63%. His on-ice goals percentage at 65.8% ranked 7th, and that’s a massive stat. The center, who has always been known for his forechecking and hard-nosed style of play, discovered his offensive game. Granted, the Colorado Avalanche was a wagon of a team this season, where it had eight players finish above 50 points. But Kadri did his part, and the center will earn a nice payday.
Despite having a reputation for disciplinary issues comes playoff time, Kadri was a force for the Avalanche. He finished fifth in points with 15 and fourth in goals with eight. He would become the first Muslim to win the Stanley Cup. He would prove that he was not a liability in the playoffs and could help his team. Just a fantastic year the center had as he became another former Maple Leaf player to win the trophy in recent years.
The Contract
Year’s: 5
Money: $38M with $7.6AAV
Team Washington Capitals
Washington’s Big Need
It is no secret that Washington has a glaring need at the center position. Star center and long-time Capital Nicklas Backstrom is undergoing surgery from which he may not return. It could end his illustrious career. With Alexander Ovechkin still playing at a high level and chasing greatness, he will need someone to play with. Management could have opted for Claude Giroux, but instead, they aimed for younger and signed Kadri. After the monster year he had, he proved he could anchor a line and come in and contribute. With Washington still in contention, boosting the team in any way will pay off.
Does He Fit?
Throughout his career, he has been the team’s top center or the second-line center. In Toronto, until the emergence of Auston Matthews, he spent his time on the top line. Colorado being as deep as they were, he was the second-line center. Kadri can produce. His lowest point totals are 32. He has hit the 40 mark three times, the 50 mark twice, and has reached 60 and 80 once in his career. While Nicklas Backstrom’s point totals began to decline due to injury, Kadri coming off the monster year, can boost the production from a center production. Outside of Evgeni Kuznetsov, the team is thin at the position and doesn’t have a player ready for top-line duty.
Welcome, Nazem Kadri, the newest player to dish Ovechkin the puck.
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