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Toronto Maple Leafs: 7 Players to Watch as Season Comes to an End

By David Morassutti

Mar 19, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock talks to an official during the third period against the Buffalo Sabres at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Buffalo 4-1. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock talks to an official during the third period against the Buffalo Sabres at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Buffalo 4-1. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
Mar 15, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri (43) carries the puck around the Tampa Bay Lightning goal pursued by center Alex Killorn (17) during the Leafs 4-1 win at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

Nazem Kadri

There has been noticeable improvement in Kadri’s game this season, especially from a defensive standpoint, but there are still questions to be answered with the campaign coming to an end. Has Kadri shown enough to warrant a longer deal this offseason? Is he the Leafs No. 2 centre moving forward?

Related Story: Is Kadri an Example of What's Wrong With Plus/Minus?

These are questions management will have to take a hard look at, because it has been mentioned many times that Kadri still has work to do both on and off the ice to prove his full value to the Leafs. His poor start to the season offensively did not help matters, but if he can improve his shot he could easily be a 60-point player in the NHL.

Mar 29, 2016; Sunrise, FL, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri (43) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers in the second period at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2016; Sunrise, FL, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri (43) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers in the second period at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports /

Other than Bozak, Kadri is the only other dependable option the Leafs have in terms of knowing what they will get out of him every night. Unfortunately, it is tough to say whether he can improve on his offensive numbers without sacrificing too much on defence.

What has helped Kadri is how he plays with an edge every night; something Babcock praises him for. This is why it only makes sense to move Kadri if the Leafs have a better option to replace him with and/or if his contract demands are outrageous, which they probably won’t be, but you never know.

Next: Garret Sparks

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