The rising

By now, standing in front of the media to explain his zigs and his zags on the ice is old hat for Nazem Kadri.

The No. 7 overall pick in the 2009 NHL entry draft has endured more than his share of media scrums as he tries to establish himself as a full-time NHLer, and justify his high selection. On this particular night, when the Maple Leafs dropped a 4-0 decision to the Philadelphia Flyers to have their pre-season record slip to 1-1, Kadri was noticeable for all the right reasons.

Playing in his second straight game, Kadri showed poise and patience with the puck and, with his team down and out, dished out a few hits that sent bigger opponents sailing. There really wasn't a lot for Leafs fans to be happy about, but Kadri's belligerence was a saving grace.

"I think I've always had that edge," said the 6-foot, 188-pound London, Ont., native. "I think I play better when I have that edge. I think that's the reason why Burkie (that would be Leafs president and GM Brian Burke) drafted me... because I have that tenacity. It's always good to lay the body (on them) once in a while. This is the Toronto Maple Leafs. If you know Burkie, we don't get pushed around. I don't think it's much of a choice, but I don't mind playing that way at all. I really don't think people expect it from me, but it's in my arsenal and I'll pull it out every once in a while."

Kadri was a junior scoring star with his hometown Knights, but early indications are he's not ready to be a top six forward which means he'll have to re-invent himself as a third-liner who gets his best offensive chances on the power play - probably the second unit. He made great strides improving his overall game last season in the American Hockey League under coach Dallas Eakins and when he joined the Leafs late in the year, he managed three goals and 12 points in 29 games.

Kadri feels he belongs in the NHL and isn't afraid to say so.

"For sure," he said. "I wanted to come into camp and not only prove that point, but prove it early. I kind of wanted to get off to a good start. I've had tons of opportunities to score, but hopefully I'm saving them for the regular season."

The good news is his coach, Ron Wilson, has been suitably impressed with his play. The bad news, or reality of the situation is, there's still no guarantee he'll start the year with the varsity squad. The Leafs have done him a favour by switching him to the wing, even if he is undersized, almost like they are bending over backwards to see he gets on the starting roster.

"I'm quite pleased with what he is doing," Wilson said. "He's making pretty good decisions with the puck and he's a bit of a pest at times. He's not afraid to be involved physically... to throw his weight around. In this evaluation period he has done what he needs to do."

With that in mind, Kadri is content to do what he has to do to make the team. Even when all his instincts scream go for goals, he'll do his best to be a better two-way player.

"Obviously I don't want to be screwing things up so I am a little hesitant," he said. "I'm keeping the cycles going and doing things that I have learned the past couple of years; things I may have done differently before that. I just have to keep doing the little things right. I'm getting my chances, which is good, and it seems like the puck is following me which I like. It's just a matter of time."

NOTES: Goalie James Reimer picked right up where he left off last season making a number of big saves through the first period. He stopped a Brayden Schenn one-timer five minutes into the frame; turned Mike Testwuide away on his doorstep at 8:34; made a point blank save on Matt Read from the shallow slot at 10:30 and then halted Wayne Simmonds on a breakaway at 17:43. However, the wheels came off in the second period when he allowed three goals. The Flyers also made Reimer's life miserable by bumping him on several occasions. James van Riemsdyk nailed him at 9:15 and was assessed a goalie interference penalty. Leafs coach Ron Wilson was quick to point out Reimer didn't receive a lot of support. You can bet that will be a common refrain when Toronto loses with their inexperienced starter between the pipes.

Veteran hockey columnist Mike Brophy writes Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday on Sportsnet.ca and appears regularly on Hockeycentral.