Restricted free agent centre Nazem Kadri has signed a one-year extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs. According to a report from Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston, the deal is for one-year and $4.1 million.
Nazem Kadri's one-year extension with #leafs is worth $4.1M.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 5, 2015
The following is the press release from the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League.
Nazem Kadri Signs Extension With Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Sunday that the club has signed forward Nazem Kadri to a one-year contract extension.
Kadri, 24, finished fourth among Maple Leaf skaters in scoring last season with 39 points (18 goals, 21 assists) in 73 regular season games. The London, Ontario native has appeared in 250 career NHL games – all with Toronto – and has collected 152 points (64 goals, 88 assists) to go along with 134 penalty minutes. Kadri was originally drafted by the Maple Leafs in the first round (7th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
Kadri is young enough that he could be part of the Maple Leafs even through their rebuild. Since his drafting he has developed into a reliable two-way centre, vastly improving his possession numbers each year in the NHL.
However, with just a one-year deal the Leafs long-term commitment to Kadri remains a bit of a question mark. He was suspended for three games last season for an off-ice incident, the details of which are not clear, but apparently angered Brendan Shanahan. The Leafs have some time to determine if they want to keep Kadri or not, as he will still be a restricted free agent next summer at the end of his new deal.
Important note: Nazem Kadri is RFA in 2016-17 and 17-18 due to his late date of birth for signing purposes. #leafs
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 5, 2015
Main PHoto:
NEWARK, NJ – FEBRUARY 06: Nazem Kadri #43 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on February 6, 2015 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Maple Leafs 4-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
