The NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Toronto Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri has been suspended for the remainder of the first round. This is his fifth career suspension.
Toronto’s Nazem Kadri has been suspended for the remainder of the First Round for Cross-checking Boston’s Jake DeBrusk. https://t.co/doqkyMVrLS
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) April 15, 2019
Nazem Kadri Suspended
Kadri has been suspended for the rest of the first round for an incident with Boston Bruins winger Jake Debrusk. Kadri delivered a high cross-check to Debrusk, which ended up taking Debrusk out of the game. He was given a major for cross-checking and game misconduct on the play. Debrusk was listed day-to-day following the hit but will play Monday night.
This season Kadri had 16 goals and 28 assists for 44 points. He also added 43 minutes in penalties. His possession numbers were 54.0 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of +2.7 percent. Kadri has a goal and an assist in two Stanley Cup Playoff games this season.
The Ontario native has spent his entire career playing for the Maple Leafs. He has put up 161 goals and 196 assists for 357 career points in 561 career games. The Leafs drafted Kadri seventh overall in 2009.
What This Means for the Future
For the second straight year, Kadri will miss playoff time due to a suspension. Last year he has suspended three games for a hit on Boston Bruins Tommy Wingels. Kadri has been playing well for the Leafs, picking up a goal and four assists over his last five games. Going into Monday’s Game 3, the Leafs and Bruins both hold one win. One of the key areas where Kadri has strived this season is in the faceoff circle. His 55.2 percent on draws is a career high for the London, Ontario native.
With Kadri out of the line-up expect Tyler Ennis to slide into the line-up for the Leafs. It wouldn’t be a huge shock if the Leafs move Patrick Marleau over to center on the third line as well. Marleau had 16 goals and 21 assists for 37 points this season. He won 51.2 percent of his draws this season.
