KADRI COULD GIVE JETS SPARK
Imagine a scenario where the Winnipeg Jets could add a second-line centre and get tougher to play against at the same time.
You can be sure Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff would love to kill two birds with one stone in either a trade or free agency this summer.
The New York Islanders took Brock Nelson off the market on Thursday, inking the graduate of the University of North Dakota program to a six-year deal worth US$36 million.
Nelson is a guy who would have been on the radar for a lot of teams had he reached unrestricted free agency on July 1, so this was an important pre-emptive strike from the Islanders.
Kevin Hayes, who the Jets acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers, is a guy who is going to garner a lot of interest on the open market but he’s probably looking for a contract that’s similar to Nelson (and would represent a modest raise from the $5.175 million he made last season).
Retaining Hayes would make sense on a number of levels, but would require some additional moves to clear cap space.
It’s not impossible, but at this stage it appears unlikely, so it’s time to explore a possible Plan B.
Let’s present the case for acquiring Toronto Maple Leafs pivot Nazem Kadri, who would most definitely fit the criteria.
Kadri is a hard-nosed player with plenty of skill.
Although he’s coming off a bit of a down season by his standards, he still recorded 16 goals (including five game-winners) and 44 points in 73 games — numbers that would have left him sixth on the Jets in scoring.
Kadri is a two-time 30-goal scorer and has 161 goals and 357 points in 561 NHL games.
He’s produced offence at a consistent level and he’s also a major pain in the behind to play against.
Occasionally, he’s stepped over the line, and he ended the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs on the sidelines after getting suspended for cross-checking Jake Debrusk of the Boston Bruins in Game 2 of their opening-round series.
Kadri was also suspended during the 2018 playoffs and is up to five suspensions since 2013, so it’s possible the Maple Leafs’ patience could be wearing a bit thin.
Having said that, when a guy plays on the edge, the occasional suspension is an occupational hazard.
It’s not like Kadri is a goon, nor is he considered a disruptive teammate.
He would fill an important role for the Jets and help provide a spark to a team that will be working to put the disappointment of a first-round exit behind them.
Kadri has already been part of an organization that underwent a rebuild and is trying to take the next step and get over the hump come playoff time.
If all of these things are true, why in the world would the Maple Leafs consider a deal for Kadri?
Well, first and foremost, they’re in a similar position to the Jets when it comes to the salary cap.
After signing Auston Matthews to an extension that carries an average annual value of $12.5 million and William Nylander to a deal worth roughly $7 million annually last season, GM Kyle Dubas must find a number that both he and Mitch Marner are comfortable with.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the AAV for Marner’s deal wind up in the $10 million-plus range, so that leaves the Maple Leafs in a bit of a bind.
Kadri remains an important player, but with so many high wage earners — and needing to add talent and depth to the blue line — Dubas probably can’t afford the luxury of paying his third-line centre north of $4 million.
Not when new deals are also required for Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson.
The Maple Leafs will be looking for some budget contracts to backfill spots on the roster, which is part of the reason they signed former Jets forward Nic Petan to a three-year extension.
They’d love to keep Kadri, but it will take some major roster surgery, to borrow a phrase used by Cheveldayoff.
While it’s true the Jets have to get deals of their own locked up with fellow restricted free agent forwards Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor and sort out what they’re going to do with RFA D -man Jacob Trouba, they’ve got a bit more flexibility and a bit more cap room than the Maple Leafs right now.
Plus, Kadri would immediately move into the second-line centre role with the Jets and represent excellent value at $4.5 million for three more seasons.