TAMPA, FLA. — Nazem Kadri's thumb, which broke three weeks ago, caused so much pain that he couldn't even tie his skates in the last three games of the Stanley Cup Finals. But after Colorado Avalanche won Game 6, he found somewhere the power to lift a £ 34.5 trophy overhead.
"Do you know what adrenaline is flowing in my body right now?" Kadori said.
It wasn't just adrenaline that inspired him. Kadori's motives were based on something more primitive.
As he told sportsnets David Amber and Elliott Friedman, "For everyone I thought I was responsible for in the playoffs, you kiss my ass.
Honestly directed at the haters, or online vandals, who targeted Kadori with racist comments during the second round of the playoffs. It was a comment that looked like. However, following a series of playoff stops, it also seemed to be directed to Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas, who packaged Kadri in Colorado in the 2019 Alex Carfoot and Tyson Barrie trade.
At the time, these outages were blamed for Toronto's inability to get out of the first round. In retrospect, this trade may have brought Toronto the final championship.
After all, Kadori wasn't responsible. He scored 15 points with 7 goals and 16 points, including perhaps the winner of Game 4 overtime, which was the biggest in the cup final, and was an integral part of Colorado's success.
"I have already said what I have to say, but I have all the people stuck on my side, all the true supporters, even in the dark when there were a few. I love you, "said Kadori. Last year's playoffs were also interrupted by illegal hits. "They were stuck on my side and knew I would be the player of the day.
One of them was Sam, Kadori's father. I was amazed at his ability to take the lead, even while others suspected him.
"I think it was like a dark cloud above his head, and I think he wanted to get rid of it a bit, "said Sam Kadori. "He did that. I think he could have made more contributions if he hadn't hurt his hands. I think everyone will find him a playoff performer in the future. And keep doing that. "
Indeed, these playoffs were a challenge for Kadori. And they weren't without controversy.
In the second round, when he encountered St. Louis Bruce goalkeeper Jordan Binnington and was injured, he barely escaped with yet another suspension. That's why St. Louis head coach Craig Belbe referred to Kadori's "reputation," and so-called blues fans targeted Kadori in cross-line online racist comments.
It was an ugly few days for him and hockey.
"His character is what it is, and obviously he intends to be hostile on the ice," said Sam Kadri. "I don't think the incident in St. Louis was his intention, but it only gives you a dose of what is really in the world right now, and it's sad to see it. That is," you're a dirty player. Anyone who says "is" can be respected. Whatever you want to say about him. However, when you start bringing in a race card, you will be off the line.
Kadori motivated his hatred by recording a hat-trick in Game 4. Under such circumstances, "said Sam Kadri. "And he decided to do something about it."
Edmonton's Evander Kane was injured in Game 3 of the West Final when he broke his right thumb and hit the board. Later, Kadori showed a similar reaction. The injury was supposed to knock him out of the rest of the playoffs. However, Kadori eventually returned to Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals, scoring an overtime goal to give Colorado a 3-1 series lead.
"I play basketball, and my vertical is probably 2 inches," said Samkadori. "That night was four feet."
For Kadri, it was a miracle he was playing.
"It was terrible," he said of his broken thumb. It was badly bandaged and required modified gloves that looked like Thanos gauntlets. "I felt it on every shift. It was hard. I got a little help. I changed the 6-week timeline to 2 weeks. I couldn't even skate before the match. Medical The trainer tied my skates before each match, but nothing prevented me from being here.
"I also froze there. I don't feel much. I As I said, I wanted to be that thick. I didn't want to look out. I tried to get back into play every hour every day and it was great. "
Indeed, as the first Muslim player to win the championship, Kadri's father said he wasn't just playing for himself or his teammates. He looked like Kadori and was playing for those who felt they weren't affiliated.
"That means everything," Kadori said. "I never forget my roots where I came from."
"For us, we are Canadians first and foremost, and we are Muslim Canada. I'm proud to be a person, "his dad added. "For the younger generation, I think we'll do a lot. Hopefully we can get the stigma of racism from every sport, culture, society, and where we are. And well. If we go, we can move it forward. "
Sam Kadori added with a smile: "Your name is also on the cup."
mtraikos@postmedia.com
twitter.com/Michael_Traikos
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