The Colorado Avalanche will be facing a philosophical conundrum this season. And it entails Nazem Kadri’s place in the lineup. Specifically, it involves placing Kadri in the team’s bottom six.
The truth is that the Avalanche have no business making Kadri a bottom-six forward.
Yes, there has been plenty of talk about Kadri being the team’s third-line center. But given the unbelievable depth the Avs have, there is really no sense in deploying Kadri in the bottom six.
Nic Roy could be a fantastic third-line center.
Kadri, for his part, should at least play in a top-six winger spot.
It must make much more sense all around.
Even at 36, Kadri is an effective forward. He can still keep up the pace and contribute meaningfully on the power play.
The question, nevertheless, would be where to place Kadri.
If I were Jared Bednar, I’d look at Kadri playing on the top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Marin Necas.
The logic behind that idea is simple. MacKinnon and Necas aren’t exactly known as the best defensive forwards in the game. They’re of a high-flying ilk and may get caught off guard at times.
That’s where having Kadri makes sense. He can contribute offensively while offering a defensive side that Necas doesn’t really have.
Let’s put it this way. Kadri could be like the responsible older brother who can always keep an eye on everyone else in the playground.
Making a case for Nazem Kadri on the Avalanche’s second lineup
Some might feel that deploying Kadri on the top line might be the best idea in the world, especially if there’s a healthy Artturi Lehkonen hanging around.
So, why not deploy Kadri on the second line with Brock Nelson and Gabriel Landeskog?
Yes, such an arrangement would create a veteran line. But it might just be one of the best second lines we’ve seen in years.
It would be a tight-checking defensive line, with plenty of scoring upside. Nelson scored 33 goals last season. Meanwhile, Kadri is still a very credible offensive threat, while Landeskog offers the heart and soul of the team.
The second line may very well be the best spot for Kadri. It’s high enough in the lineup where he can do plenty of damage, but it’s not low enough to waste his talent.
It’s worth noting that there might be times when Kadri could slide down as the third-line center. If Bednar is keen on mixing up his line in-game, throwing MacKinnon, Nelson, and then Kadri down the middle could significantly shift the balance of power throughout a game. Perhaps that’s something we might see against a particularly tough opponent during the regular season or in the playoffs.
Whatever the case, one thing is clear: The Avalanche have a ridiculous amount of flexibility with Kadri on the team. Unless he goes down with an injury, the Avs have the sort of wild card player that could become the team’s most valuable commodity.
However the club decides to deploy Kadri, it surely won’t be a bottom-six forward.
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