Kadri not worried about contract negotiations

If Nazem Kadri is worried about not reaching a deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he isn’t showing it.

Kadri is one of the Leafs’ key restricted free agents

“We’re in conversation,” Kadri said of contract talks. “It’s been good. There’s still work to be done, but we’re talking and that’s the most important thing.”

The 22 year old Kadri was at the Maple Leafs practice facility Friday for some off-ice workouts, and he watched a bit of the prospects who took to the ice.

He gave no indication the talks have been acrimonious, so that should be seen as a good sign.

Kadri – along with the likes of Cody Franson, Carl Gunnarsson and Mark Fraser are the Leafs restricted free agents. Toronto signed Jonathan Bernier to a 2-year, $5.8 M deal just last week.  

There is no doubt all the RFA’s are in line for pay hikes. Last year, Kadri was paid $810,000. He had a tremendous season picking up 18 goals, 26 assists in 48 games.

Kadri did have a chance to say goodbye to a couple of friends — Matt Frattin and Ben Scrivens — at Dion Phaneuf’s wedding in Prince Edward Island last week. As hard as it was to see them leave the Leafs, Kadri said he likes the moves GM Dave Nonis has made: Bringing in Bernier, centre Dave Bolland through trades and winger David Clarkson via free agency.

“It’s always tough to see some of your good friends leave,” said Kadri. “That’s the hardest part about this business.

“I do feel like we upgraded. Bringing in Clarkson, Bernier and Bolland, veteran guys that can bring a lot to the dressing room and on the ice.”

Kadri was in particular certain that  Clarkson will especially fit in nicely into what coach Randy Carlyle is trying to build.

“He is the type of guy you hate playing against, an agitator that gets under a lot of people’s skin,” Kadri said of Clarkson. “That’s our identity that Randy (Carlyle) has been building up.

“We want to be that tough team to play against.”

How does a Joffrey Lupul- Nazem Kadri-David Clarkson line sound to the Leafs 1^st round pick from 2009.

“I’m excited,” said Kadri, “Hopefully (if it happens) we can find chemistry. Those are 2 players that bring different elements to the game. They are pretty big wingers and hopefully they can do the dirty work and I can get them the puck.”

But first he and the Leafs need to come to an agreement. 

Percy and Broll look to make an impact in the American Hockey League with the Toronto Marlies

Stuart Percy knows what he wants to do next.

“Hopefully crack the (Toronto) Marlies lineup,” said the 2011 Toronto Maple Leafs 1^st round pick. “I want to continue to develop my game (in the American Hockey League) and try to become a regular in that lineup.”

Percy - a puck moving defenceman - was captain of the Ontario Hockey League Mississauga Steelheads last season and played in all 68 games and had 13 goals and 32 assists on a young team that struggled to score goals.

It was a good year for Percy, who struggled the previous season with a variety of knee and head injuries.

In a game against Kitchener on December 11, 2011, Percy got hit by a pair of Rangers. He landed awkwardly against the boards and missed time with a concussion.

It was the second concussion he suffered in a short time. The other occurred in September of 2011 at the Leafs prospect camp. He suffered a knee injury a month later.

In 2011-2012 in Mississauga, Percy played just 34 games (5 goals, 20 assists).

Having played in every game last season was something the Leafs wanted to see and he doesn’t think the concussions have hurt his development.

“It helped my mentally and physically,” said the 20 year-old Percy. “It made me pay attention more off- ice and getting warmed up and ready to play and aware and alert when I’m out there.”

“You also realize in a split second you can get hurt. You pay more attention when you are on the ice.”

Percy is considered by Leafs management an “intelligent player” who is a solid puck mover and has an offensive flair to his game. He needs to get bigger and more physical.

Percy also realizes the Leafs have a number of high-end defense prospects in the system, led by 2012 first round pick Morgan Rielly.

“I think anywhere you go there’s going to be tonnes of defenceman and guys fighting for spots, so there’s really nothing negative about that,” said the 6-foot-1, 193 pound Percy. “It’s good to have competition and that just means everyone will be paying well when they get to the Leafs. It’s a good healthy competition and guys are always pushing each other and all the guys are great. We all get along and that makes it easier as well.”

Percy played 4 games for the Marlies in the AHL playoffs a few months ago, and scored a goal and had 2 assists. He hopes to be a regular with the Marlies this season.
-

 

David Broll has heard all the comparisons to Colton Orr.  One day he may draw comparisons to another Leaf, David Clarkson.

The 20 year-old Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick was one of 34 players in Toronto this week at the annual Maple Leafs prospect camp.

“I can play in the NHL one day, but it’s up to me,” said the 6-foot-3, 235 pound left- winger, who played in the Ontario Hockey League Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds for the last three seasons.

Broll – who is nicknamed Brolldozer for his physical play – got involved in a number of fights his first time at the Leafs prospects camp. This year there would be no fights as the Leafs want him to work on improving his all-around game.

“I want to show my other assets as well, and not be labelled as just a guy that can fight,” said Broll. “My goal is pretty much every kid’s goal: to make the Leafs.”

Former Leafs GM Brian Burke used to say Broll was one of the few Leafs prospects in junior who could step up to the NHL right away because of his size and aggressive play.

“Obviously to hear that it’s a good thing for your confidence level,” said Broll, who was drafted by Toronto in 2001 in the 6^th round (151 overall). “No (NHL) spots are giving. Every day you have to get a little bit better.”

Broll has worked hard at his game – he scored just 8 goals in 2011-2012 but last season scored 17 goals while seeing time on the penalty kill.

“Randy Carlyle likes hard-nosed guys and I feel I can step in and do that,” said the Mississauga, Ontario native. “I like to compete. I’m ready to do whatever it takes.”

The plan is for Broll – who cut down his fighting majors from 7 in 2011-2012 to 3 last season  – to start the year with the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies. If he can make an impression like he did this week at the prospects camp, he could be up in the NHL sooner rather than later.

“He has the ability to possess the puck on the cycle situations and he crates offence out of that,” said Leafs director of player development, Jim Hughes. “He buys time and space and he has the ability to make plays. So he was sort of dominant (at the camp).”

He may not have the polished skills some of the prospects in the Leafs system have, but his size and his toughness may have him in the NHL soon.