TORONTO — Nazem Kadri has often spoken of his desire to sign a long-term extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Instead, he’ll play next season on a “show-me” contract.
Kadri signed a $4.1-million, one-year extension on Sunday and will still be two years from unrestricted free agency when it expires, according to a source.
That’s because the 24-year-old didn’t receive credit for an accrued season in any of the first three years he appeared in the NHL. Kadri was an emergency callup for one game in February 2010, appeared in 29 games during the 2010-11 season and dressed for another 21 in 2011-12.
A player must be on the roster for 40 games to register an accrued NHL season — something Kadri has accomplished the last three years.
Since unrestricted free agency doesn’t arrive until after seven accrued seasons or once a player turns 27, Kadri (born Oct. 6, 1990) isn’t eligible to hit the open market until the summer of 2018.
Essentially, that made both sides comfortable with a short-term deal. Kadri had the option to file for salary arbitration by Sunday night’s deadline but instead took a $1-million raise on what he earned last season.
He’ll be in good position to sign a longer-term contract that buys into UFA years next summer.
Kadri enters next season as Toronto’s presumptive No. 1 centre and will be looking to move on from a campaign that saw him serve a three-game, team-issued suspension for sleeping through a meeting.
He finished as Toronto’s fourth-leading scorer with 18 goals and 39 points in 73 games.
The Leafs don’t have much outstanding business left to deal with this off-season. Negotiations continue on an extension for goalie Jonathan Bernier, who is the organization’s lone possible candidate to reach arbitration.
July 5, 2015
Toronto Maple Leafs
