Leafs’ centre Kadri fine with potential demotion following addition of Tavares
OAKVILLE, Ont. — Nazem Kadri has always seen himself as a No. 1 centre, but he’d have no problem being No. 3 on the Toronto Maple Leafs’ depth chart this season after the addition of John Tavares.
Toronto strengthened itself up the middle July 1 by signing free-agent Tavares to a seven-year, US$77-million deal. The 27-year-old Mississauga, Ont., native had 272 goals and 621 points over nine seasons with the New York Islanders.
The addition of Tavares (37 goals, 47 assists last season) leaves Toronto three-deep at centre with young star Auston Matthews (34 goals, 29 assists) and Kadri (32 goals, 23 assists). If Tavares’ arrival pushes Kadri to the third line, the 27-year-old London, Ont., native would be fine with it.
“Winning is the most important thing to me,” Kadri said Tuesday prior to participating in the NHLPA Classic at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont. “I know that’s maybe a cliche but that’s just the honest truth.