“That’s all I can control — how I play. Maybe not that many people expected it out of me (last year’s 44 points), but I knew I was capable of that and even more. I did my work during these past three years, doing exactly what they told me, trying to be the player they want me to be. I think I’m well on my way.”

He did have strong numbers comparable to some higher-paid players, with less ice time. Yet the Leafs can’t be called unreasonable for wanting him to prove he can keep a high standard through a full 82-game schedule.

“I have 100 games in this league, I don’t think that’s a little,” Kadri responded. “I understand you have to put 82 games together, but I’m becoming more and more mature and every year it’s becoming easier and easier. I don’t see a problem with that.”

Continued, and fear not, the Toronto Star's Damien Cox freaked out as is appropriate for a Toronto sports columnist at this time of year:

It seems very unlikely Kadri will be in training camp when it opens next month. If he’s still out when the Leafs open the season in Montreal, and if the Leafs get off to a slow start, the same misguided souls who screamed that he deserved to be a full-time NHLer well before last season will again scream that the Leafs must pay him the $5 million or $6 million per season he wants.

That’s how these things works, particularly in hockey-mad burgs like this one.

But if Habs GM Marc Bergevin could hold the line with [P.K.] Subban, who at that point was a more accomplished NHLer than Kadri is now, then Leafs GM Dave Nonis, blessed with a new contract himself courtesy of MLSE head honcho Tim (You Say Joffrey, I Say Jeffrey) Leiweke, should have no trouble staring down the young centre and his agent.

Just can’t see the Leafs caving on this one, but it will play itself out as these things do.