Why Nazem Kadri felt mistreated by the Maple Leafs (but enjoyed playing for Mike Babcock)

Its been more than 15 years since Brian Burke told Bryan Murray that the Maple Leafs would be drafting Nazem Kadri with the seventh pick at the 2009 NHL Draft.

Kadri has played in more than 900 NHL games since and captured a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022.

His career has undoubtedly been a success, but its also been noisy, especially the 10 years he played in Toronto.

Advertisement What went on behind the scenes during that time is part of what Kadri reveals in his new memoir, Dreamer: My Life On The Edge , co-written by The Athletics Dan Robson .

He spoke to The Athletic recently about the good (winning that Cup), the bad (needing help just to get dressed because of injury during that run to that Cup), and the ugly (suspensions, conflict with Leafs management) of his life in the NHL.

Lets start with the Cup.

I wondered if you could think back to the first thing that popped into your mind when you won the Cup.

I mean, whats the best way to celebrate? (laughs) I think that was big.

Obviously, just once you win, one of my favorite parts is just going obviously having the family on the ice but just going right back to the dressing room afterward, that was an absolute treat.

To me, thats a big standout too, just like immediately after we won, going back to the room, hanging out there for hours.

What is that scene like? A lot of good vibes.

Obviously the Cup comes in.

You celebrate.

Thats the first moment where you can really, like soak it in, like, holy s, like this thing (the Cup) is sitting next to me kind of thing.

That was epic.

Wasnt that the year when you had the injury with your broken thumb? Thats right.

I was getting dressed by the medical team.

They physically had to dress me to play in the finals.

That first game I came back I ended up scoring the overtime winner.

That made the series 3-1.

And we werent blowing that (lead).

Wait, so they are literally tying your skates and putting on every piece of equipment for you because you just cant do it? Exactly.

Taping my sticks.

Tying my skates.

Tying my pants.

Everything.

I could barely put on my jock.

Its quite embarrassing to talk about.

But its kind of sick at the same time.

I dont think its embarrassing at all.

I literally couldnt even like theyre strapping my cup on.

Im completely useless.

Advertisement I was injected before every game, in my wrist , which was a nightmare in itself.

I was almost more nervous for the injection than I was for the actual game.

Im not a huge needle guy.

But just based on where my thumb was, they couldnt freeze the whole thing or else I wouldnt be able to feel the bottom of my hand to control the puck.

So I had to play with pain because it was impossible to get the whole area without me not being able to feel my hand.

So it was a bit of a complicated process.

I could barely hold onto my stick.

Did it feel like you changed the narrative about yourself? Because obviously there was a lot of stuff in the past.

And now its like, thats not the story anymore.

Definitely.

I didnt hear a peep after that.

Its nice to kind of just silence the critics.

And, you know, throughout my whole career, Ive always tried to step my game up in the playoffs.

And I always feel like I have been a major contributor in any series that Ive played in.

But obviously with the suspensions, that overshadowed anything positive Id done in the playoffs.

This was definitely a great way to just tell everybody to shut up.

Did any part of you change after the suspensions? Did something shift or did you just continue to be who you were? I just tried to continue to be who I was.

But I was facing, that year that we won, I was facing probably the most pressure Ive ever had in my career because Id been suspended the year before in Colorado and that was still being talked about.

So this was basically make or break for me.

I had to come ready to go.

And there was a lot of people that I was under the microscope (for) during that playoff run.

Before Id gotten hurt, against the Oilers in the conference finals, I was in Conn Smythe contention with ( Nathan MacKinnon ) and Cale (Makar).

Thats what everybody was talking about.

I certainly came ready to play, but obviously the injury set me back a little bit, but I was still able to bounce back.

Were you motivated at all by the management in Toronto? I dont know if it felt like this at the time, but giving up on you when they did, did that fuel you at all? Yeah, definitely in a way, like in a revengeful, hatred-type way.

For sure.

Like I mentioned in the book, I was coming for everybodys ass at that point because I just didnt like the way that they had treated me.

At that point, I made it personal.

You mentioned in the book that Lou Lamoriello would have handled that situation (the trade from Toronto to Colorado) differently.

How do you think he would have handled it? (Kyle Dubas was the Leafs GM at the time.) I think he just would have communicated a little bit differently.

Lous very hands-on.

So, he probably would have overseen that situation a little more closely.

I have no idea what those guys were thinking or what they were trying to do.

But it was just one of those things that I was kind of used to, just bouncing back and forth (from the Marlies to the Leafs) a couple years there to start my career, trying to find my path.

And I ended up breaking through when I needed to.

Advertisement There are a lot of interesting parts in the book that I didnt know about and one of them involved some of the stuff that went on with management in the beginning of your time in Toronto.

They asked you at one point to go and live with a billet family.

I dont think Ive ever heard of that.

What was that like at the time? Is that normal? Thats the best part of releasing a book is you get to find out some juicy details.

It was just late (when they asked me).

I already had a place and they kind of came out of the woodwork.

So it wasnt a planned thing.

It was just kind of like one day I walked in the office and theyre like, Youre going to a billet house.

And I was like, No, Im not.

It was definitely a little bizarre.

And (the family) was out in Oakville, too.

I had rented a place downtown, a five-minute walk from the Scotiabank (Arena).

You made it clear in the book that you really liked dealing with Brian Burke, but the management below him wasnt as easy to deal with.

What do you think was their issue? Why do you think they were so hard on you? I think they had the perception that I was possibly arrogant and cocky.

I think that my confidence, they perceived it as something that wasnt what it was.

I could understand why maybe sometimes I had ruffled some feathers.

But at the end of the day, my teammates once you get to know me, they all loved me.

Its not like I was this cocky, selfish prick.

(But) they treated me that way.

You just had to understand me.

I feel like I was definitely misunderstood for a lot of those years.

Do you think they misunderstood the fact that your confidence was more self-belief than it was, Im a big shot.

Im better than everyone else.

Because I never interpreted you that way.

But do you think that thats how they read it? Definitely.

And theyre old-school guys.

It was like, Why are you so confident? What have you done to be this confident? kind of mentality.

And Im like, What do you mean? Dont you want me to believe I belong here? It was very confusing for me.

They definitely were taking some shots at my confidence, like they tested it for sure.

When you look back at situations like one where they basically list off every first-round pick who is a bust.

What do you think they were trying to do? Are they trying to scare you? Like, what do you think that was about? I have no idea, man.

To this day, Im still profoundly confused about why they did that.

Because youd think, a guy you draft, a top-10 pick, that you have a lot of money invested in, youd think youd try to build them up instead of take them down? They are very lucky that I was who I was and I had the mental toughness and that edge to me.

I could have easily (fallen) into one of those lists.

I think people would be surprised to know that you liked playing for Mike Babcock, generally.

You can tell me if thats an unfair characterization, but it seemed like he found ways, in some respects, to get the most out of you.

Is that fair? I think so, yeah.

(He) knew how much I loved a challenge and that I was going to rise up to meet that challenge.

I think he made me a better player, made me a better pro.

I think theres no question about that.

He took the time to work with me.

I was in his office way too much.

My first year when he was there, he would drag me to his office every single day.

Im like, Babs, can I eat some breakfast first? Can I at least get a coffee in me? It just seemed like hed be waiting at the door for me every single day, just wanting to show me something or talk about something.

He taught me a lot about preparation and being prepared for the game.

There was some questionable decision-making on his part at times.

But for me, I did not have a bad relationship with him at all.

I think hes still a good coach and has had a great career.

Can you tell me what those daily meetings were like? Hed always have clips waiting for me.

He knew I was a big (Pavel) Datsyuk fan.

Hed show me clips of Datsyuk.

Because I think he thought I could be something similar, which I thought was crazy at the time.

So I was very intrigued when he talked about him and certain things hed do.

He was the ultimate team player and 200-foot guy, unbelievable skill.

I tried to model my game after him a little bit, as best I could.

Hed just try to give me some advice.

And sometimes he came down hard on me, too, dont get me wrong.

But when he talked about Datsyuk Id be hooked.

Id listen to whatever he said.

Ive seen a lot of star players talk about Mitch Marner , that they think like the perception of him, the criticism of him is unfair.

What do you think has been unfair with some of what goes on with Marner and Toronto? Hes a superstar type player.

And the best players are often held more accountable.

And thats just kind of how it is.

You saw the same thing happen to Phil (Kessel) almost.

Hes the guy who would go out there and put up 80 points and score 40 goals and people would still be all over you.

Like, what do you really expect here? I know the playoff success isnt there and star players have to perform there.

But Mitchy, Id take him in the foxhole any day of the week and have him on my team.

I understand what kind of guy is and what kind of fire he has.

And man, what a player.

When I played with Mitchy, he was probably one of the best linemates Ive ever had.

Just his vision, and the way he plays the game and sees the ice.

I could go on for hours about Mitch.

Im a big fan of his and Id take him on my team any day of the week.

This interview was edited and condensed for clarity.

(Top photo: Kim Klement / USA Today).

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