Maple Leafs, Kadri talk long-term contract

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nazem Kadri comments on the Leafs fan who threw his jersey onto the ice during the Maple Leafs loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

According to Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos, the Toronto Maple Leafs have opened contract negotiations with Nazem Kadri. The 24-year-old centre is scheduled to become a restricted free agent at the end of this season and makes $2.9 million against the cap.

Kypreos says that instead of a short-term deal, the Leafs would like to strike a long-term deal with Kadri and buy up some of his UFA years.

Nick Kypreos on Twitter

With 12 goals and 26 points in 45 games, Kadri is the fifth-highest scorer on the Leafs this season. Unless he signs a long-term contract, he would become eligible for unrestricted free agency after the 2016-17 season.

According to Kypreos’ numbers, the Maple Leafs are offering an average annual value of $4.5 million to Kadri.

Recently, pending UFA Nick Foligno signed an extension with Columbus worth $5.5 million against the cap, while 22-year-old Nick Bjugstad signed a six-year extension worth $4.1 million with Florida, which bought up a few of his UFA seasons.

The Maple Leafs drafted Kadri seventh overall in the 2009 draft.

When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.