Colorado’s Nazem Kadri Not Afraid of the Big Moments

The Colorado Avalanche are living up to expectations as they finally got past the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Colorado currently leads their Western Conference Final series against the Edmonton Oilers 2-0. A large part of their success this season has seen their depth scoring step up. Mainly, Nazem Kadri.

Though Kadri may not get the right headlines at times for the Avalanche, this season he has taken his game to the next level as he enters free agency. Every since arriving in Colorado he has brought an edge that was missing from the lineup. Kadri is turning into the playoff performer the Avalanche expected him to be when they acquired him from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Nazem Kadri Playoff Performer

Now that Kadri and the Avalanche are inching closer to the Stanley Cup Final, many are wondering what damage the Avalanche could have done in the last couple of seasons if Kadri was not suspended. Kadri has not only performed in the playoffs this season for the Avalanche but kept Colorado near the top of the standings in the regular season. Especially when key players like Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and others were lost to injury for long stretches of time.

In 71 games with the Avalanche during the regular Kadri posted career numbers in points and assists. He finished the season with 87 points (28 goals and 59 assists). Through 12 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, he has 14 points (six goals and eight assists). During his Game 2 performance against the Edmonton Oilers, Kadri sparked the offence. Kadri recorded three primary assists in a span of 2:04 as the Avalanche build a 3-0 lead in the second period. In addition, Kadri scored in Game 1 during the wild 8-6 game.

But this is not the first instance Nazem Kadri has performed at a high level for the Avalanche. Especially in Games 3 and 4 of the second round against the St. Louis Blues. Kadri was the center of attention in Game 3 for all the wrong reasons as he and Jordan Binnington collided in front of the net. Binnington got hurt on the play and was lost for the series. Kadri scored later in the game. But the Blues and their fans made him public enemy number one and blamed him for the Binnington injury.

After receiving death threats and having racial slurs thrown his way, Kadri blocked that aside and had his best game of the playoffs. In Game 4 of that series, Kadri stepped up for the Avalanche. He drove the offence recording a four-point night including getting a hat trick. The Avalanche needed that as the Blues were pushing back down 4-3. After recording the hat trick, he let the fans in St. Louis exactly what he thought. But if it was not for Kadri’s play, the Blues might have won that game.

Staying On The Ice Is Important

The reason Kadri is so effective for the Avalanche is he is remaining on the ice. Over the last several playoffs for the Avalanche and prior to that the Maple Leafs, Kadri was in the press box and not on the ice. Not because he was hurt, but because he was suspended. And regardless of what you think of his play, Kadri is good at what he does. As he wrote in the Players Tribune, “I am Who I am.”

Kadri has a history of getting himself suspended in the playoffs and costing his team. It was one of the reasons why Toronto shipped him off to Colorado. Kadri was suspended three times in the playoffs when playing for the Leafs. Of course, they were playing their old rivals the Boston Bruins. In each one of those instances with Toronto, the Maple Leafs could have used Kadri’s services to get past Boston.

Last year, the NHL suspended Kadri for eight games for his illegal check to the head on Blues defenceman Justin Faulk. Just imagine if the Avalanche had Kadri last year against Vegas. Colorado might have exercised their second-round demons and won the Stanley Cup. He plays with a certain edge and so far in these playoffs, he has kept it under control. Maybe Kadri has gained the wisdom and knowledge from getting suspended all these times. As he has finally tarnished his energy into scoring goals instead of going over the edge.

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Future For Kadri and the Avalanche

Right now, the Avalanche are into Round 3 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. And that is what the team is focused on. Their goal is to win the Stanley Cup. Colorado sees Nazem Kadri as a vital player on this team. Especially at the centre position. However, they know Kadri is likely going to hit free agency this summer. With the salary cap only going up by a $1 million next year, it will be hard for the Avalanche to keep him.

Currently, his salary cap hit is $4.5 million. That will likely go up this summer considering the numbers he has put up in Colorado. However, if Kadri does not care about the money and cares about maybe there could a deal to be worked out. But for now, the Avalanche are going all in to win this year with Kadri on the team. They can’t afford to look to next season.

If Kadri can continue to keep his composure, especially in the big moments, he will be one of the reasons why the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup. Not only that, with each passing day, his value on the open market goes up.

Regardless of what you think of Kadri, he is turning into a big-time playoff performer and was the missing piece the Avalanche needed to make as they continue their journey towards a Stanley Cup Championship.