BY ARASH MADANI
sportsnet.ca

Nazem Kadri is a healthy scratch again for the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight.

Ron Wilson announced that the rookie centre would miss his second consecutive game -- when the Leafs host the Thrashers -- but that the franchise's first round pick will not be demoted to the AHL Marlies.

"I'm using the next four days for him to get stronger and faster. This is part of what this is for," the Leafs head coach said Monday after Toronto's morning skate at Air Canada Centre. "He has to get quicker... He has to get stronger. It's that simple."

Wilson said the Leafs are using the model the Lightning went with in the development with Stephen Stamkos when the phenom was in his first season with Tampa Bay: play the kid a number of games, then give him time, while bulking up and improving speed.

---

Fantasy notes: THRASHERS @ LEAFS Anthony Stewart's development has really taken a step forward this year and he's sixth in team scoring with 9-11-20. Dion Phaneuf has points in two of five games since returning to action with 16 SOG and a +3 rating in that time. | Follow Chris Nichols on Twitter

---

"We want to do a similar project with Nazem, said Wilson.

Kadri has played 16 games this season and is without a goal. He has registered six assists, is a minus-4 and has four penalty minutes.

Meanwhile, Leafs netminder Jean-Sebastien Giguere remains out for Monday's game and will miss Toronto's next game, at New Jersey, on Boxing Day. The veteran, who tweaked what has now become a nagging groin, will visit with a specialist "over the next couple of days", Wilson said, although general manager Brian Burke hoped to have an update by end of day Monday.

Brett Lebda will play tonight, but not at his usual spot on the blue line. The defenseman will be a fourth line left wing on the same shift as John Mitchell and Colton Orr.