tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Kadri Back Tracks On Salary Demand

Reports abound that Restricted Free Agent (RFA), Nazem Kadri is looking for a five to eight year deal at $5 million dollars per year. But the 22 year old has denied making such demands. Maybe reality has set in or maybe someone has told the kid he's not dealing from a position of strength. Kadri had a good year last season scoring 18 goals to go along with 26 assists. This included two hat tricks: one on February 28 against the Islanders and one on March 30 against Ottawa.

After the 3 goal outburst against the Senators, Kadri had one goal and four assists in the last 12 regular season games. In the seven game playoff against the Bruins, he had a goal and three assists. Thus, since the hat trick on March 30, Kadri had two goals and seven assists in 19 games. The numbers simply do not add up for an eight year contract at $5 million dollars a year.

There is no question that Kadri has the offensive skills that arguably could make him the team's first line center. However, he is not there yet and has not proven it over the course of an 82 game schedule. I'm also still concerned about his size. While not afraid to body check, he seems to get knocked off the puck rather easily. That could be a problem for a number one center.

Some have said that the recent contract Adam Henrique signed with the New Jersey Devils has strengthened Kadri's bargaining position. Henrique signed a six year deal worth $24 million dollars, or an average $4 million dollars a year for six years. The 23 year old center scored 16 goals and had 35 points in 74 games played in the 2011-12 season. That year, he had five goals and eight assists in 24 playoff games played. Three of his goals were game winners during the Devils run to the Stanley Cup Finals. Last season, Henrique fell off scoring 11 goals and 5 assists in 42 games played.

While they may be nearly the same age and play the same position, I don't believe Henrique's contract should have a bearing on what the Leafs do with Kadri. This isn't an issue where Kadri can go to arbitration and use Henrique's deal as a benchmark. The Leafs cap situation is totally different than the Devils as they still also have to re-sign Cody Franson and will have to decide what they will do in 2014-15 with Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf who will both be looking for a raise.

If Kadri truly loves being a Maple Leaf and he believes this team can be a contender for awhile, he needs to accept a bridge contract similar to what P.K.Subban signed with the Montreal Canadiens. Subban stands to make a considerable amount of money after this season and with the salary cap going up next year, the Canadiens would be crazy not to give Subban a sizable increase equal to that of a Norris Trophy candidate. The same could be true for Kadri. Sign a one or two year deal at $2.5 million dollars a year and work your way up to that number one center spot. At the end of the bridge deal, Kadri would be in line for big dollars at the age of 24. That makes sense for the Maple Leafs and it makes sense for him.

It's one thing to be confident in one's abilities but it's another to be stupid. As mentioned, Kadri is not dealing from a position of strength. It is highly unlikely that another team would give him an offer sheet that would force Dave Nonis' hand. That being said, the Leafs have all the cards here and maybe that's what has sunk in to Kadri and Company.