Kadri Among NHL Penalty Drawing Elite

Nazem Kadri‘s talent for drawing penalties has placed him among the elite in the NHL, ranking sixth in the league. His 27 penalties drawn so far this season puts him in the company of major names like Connor McDavid, Matthew Tkachuk, and Brad Marchand, with Brady Tkachuk leading the league with 34 drawn penalties. The only outlier among the top five is Garnet Hathaway from the Philadelphia Flyers.

Kadri believes that his ability to draw penalties is not just about getting under opponents’ skin but also about positioning himself strategically on the ice to force opponents into mistakes. This skill has proven valuable for the Calgary Flames, as seen in Kadri’s recent power-play assist after drawing a penalty.

The advantage of having a player like Kadri who can draw penalties is evident, as it provides teams with more opportunities on the power-play. Kadri’s consistency in being among the top in penalties drawn over the past four seasons reflects his commitment to this skill.

While Kadri excels at getting opponents penalized, he also maintains discipline on the ice with only 18 penalty minutes this season. This balance of drawing penalties while avoiding penalties himself has contributed to his overall effectiveness.

In response to an injury to Dan Vladar, the Calgary Flames have recalled Dustin Wolf from the AHL affiliate Calgary Wranglers. Wolf, a promising goaltender with an impressive .921 save percentage in the AHL, will have the opportunity to showcase his skills with the Flames in Vladar’s absence.