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.