from Kristen Shilton of TSN,

Since being drafted seventh overall by the Maple Leafs in 2009, Nazem Kadri has grown accustomed to shouldering a certain amount of the spotlight and expectations in Toronto.

This season is different. Gearing up for his eighth NHL training camp later this month, the projected top-line centre for the Maple Leafs is happy to cede the limelight to the team’s up-and-comers.

“I don’t mind flying under the radar sometimes,” Kadri said after an informal practice at MasterCard Centre on Tuesday. “But at the same time, guys are expected to do a lot — maybe a little more this year than last year. But I think those guys know who they are and they’re ready to take responsibility and take action.”

Kadri intends to be among them. He endured another long off-season with plenty of golf and a trip to Helsinki to attend teammate Leo Komarov’s wedding. Kadri also took stock of his position with the Maple Leafs and how he could improve it for this coming season, the first on his new six-year, $27-million contract.

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