Nazem Kadri takes some responsibility for his past actions in new essay

Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri knows he’s made some big mistakes in the past.

His dirty hit against St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk earned him an eight-game suspension in last year’s playoffs. The Avs failed spectacularly without Kadri in their second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights, losing four straight games after taking a 2-0 series lead and exiting out of the playoffs.

But that wasn’t the first time Kadri’s done something highly suspect on the ice. In his career he’s been suspended a total of six times, missing 16 playoff games and 11 regular season games. Most of that was with the Maple Leafs, but last year’s infraction added to the total as well. He has to work hard in this postseason not to do something dumb, as it could derail a potential Stanley Cup run.

In an essay for “The Players’ Tribune” published on Wednesday, Kadri wrote about the hit on Faulk, his “Mamba mentality,” the failures and eventual trade from Toronto, his daughter, his faith and his time so far with the Avalanche. He also discussed fans in Colorado and the team’s goal this year given the pressure they’re under to win the whole thing.

Look, it’s cool for Kadri to open up. He’s been a polarizing figure in the NHL for a long time and has received a ton of criticism, a lot of it deserved. But the timing of the piece is also curious, given that Kadri has to prove he’s a changed man during these playoffs and not just write about. Actions speak louder than words is one of the oldest cliches in the book, but it applies to Kadri.

If you’re an Avalanche fan, Kadri believer, or Kadri doubter, it’s worth your time to give it a read. You can check out the full article on The Players’ Tribune here.

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