Nazem Kadri

Lore & Background

Kadri began skating at age two and joined his first hockey team at four. He played minor hockey for the London Jr. Knights and later junior hockey in the OHL with the Kitchener Rangers, winning the J. Ross Robertson Cup and reaching the 2008 Memorial Cup final. He was traded to the London Knights, his hometown team, and recorded 78 points in 56 games in 2008–09. Kadri was drafted seventh overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2009 and signed a three-year entry-level contract. He made his NHL debut on February 8, 2010, against the San Jose Sharks, and scored his first NHL goal on March 19, 2011, against Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins. During the 2012–13 season, Kadri scored two hat-tricks and finished second on the Maple Leafs in points. He was suspended multiple times: three games for elbowing Minnesota Wild goaltender Niklas Bäckström in 2013, and internally for lateness plus four games for an illegal check to the head of Matt Fraser in 2014–15.

Reader's Guide

Kadri's career is marked by his journey from a high draft pick to a Stanley Cup champion. He played his junior hockey in Ontario, winning an OHL championship with Kitchener and later starring for the London Knights. After being drafted by Toronto, he developed through the AHL and became a key forward for the Maple Leafs, recording career highs of 20 goals and 50 points in 2013–14. His tenure in Toronto included multiple suspensions but also notable playoff performances, including his first playoff goal in Game 7 against Boston in 2013. Kadri later joined the Colorado Avalanche and won the Stanley Cup in 2022, becoming the first Muslim player to do so. He also represented Canada internationally, winning a silver medal at the 2010 World Junior Championships. His background includes a Lebanese heritage; his grandparents were born in Kfar Danis, Lebanon, and his father ensured he had the opportunity to play hockey that he himself lacked.

Did You Know?

• Kadri was born in London, Ontario, and began ice skating at age two.
• He won the J. Ross Robertson Cup with the Kitchener Rangers in 2008.
• Kadri scored his first NHL hat-trick on February 28, 2013, against the New York Islanders.
• He is the first Muslim player to win the Stanley Cup.