Quoting: Ledge_And_Dairy
Saying he's a high end defensive center is a bit of an overstatement. I'm not saying he isn't a defensive center, but hes not high end. Kadri had been considered for the Selke trophy twice in his career; in 16-17 when he got 19 votes and 12-13 when he got 3. Hell even Monahan got 19 votes in 14-15 and we don't consider him much of a defensive center at all.
As for a 3c stepping in due to injury I 100% agree and the leafs have Kadri and Nylander for that. IMHO Nylander should be traded first but Dubas isn't going to do that, and there is a lot of spite between Kadri and fans due to his suspensions so moving him for that makes sense as well.
If you think Kadri is worth 6-7M because of his defensive performance what is Couturier worth, who is a legitimate high end defensive center?
Couturier on the open market now would get 9 I would imagine. He's better than Duchene and that is what they're saying he'd get.
Kadri was the Leafs shutdown center two years in a row until Tavares came in and they stopped using a shutdown center.
He did a good job of it.
High end may have been a bit of an exaggeration but I'd happily put him out against any line.
The going rate for a top 6 center is 6 mil plus. Look what Brock Nelson and hayes just got.
Kadri is incredible for the Leafs for the safety valve he provides by being an incredible 3rd line center, and being available to be an above average second line center or acceptable first line center if injuries were to occur. And he does it at a very reasonable cost for a center.
In the last 3 years Kadri is 19th in goals by a C (
http://hkref.com/tiny/ijF9z) with 80. That's ahead of guys like O'Reilly, Giroux, Duchene, Eichel, etc
He's also tied for 39th at 160 with RNH.
http://hkref.com/tiny/gryyM
That means he'd be the best goal scoring c on 13/31 teams and a second line C by pts
Now you could say that's because he's been healthy and you'd be right to a degree, but he still has produced well per game:
He's tied for 26th with Couturier and Zibenajad for goals per game at 0.34 (
http://hkref.com/tiny/KGP3M) and he's tied for 52nd with Keller, Skinner, and Stastny and 0.68. Also note Skinner is in this list with other pure wingers so he's actually high on a pure center list.
He's a top 40 centre paid under 5 million through his prime.