The Time Is Now for Nazem Kadri

Once you start going down the list, you realize it ends pretty quickly.

Four names. Just four skaters on the current Toronto Maple Leafs roster spent time with the club five years ago during the 2010-11 season: Tyler Bozak, Joffrey Lupul, Dion Phaneuf and Nazem Kadri. The oft-injured Lupul and Phaneuf are both north of 30 years old, wear letters and have emerged as voices of leadership within the dressing room. Not unlike Bozak, they have also been part of the rumour mill and likely do not fit into the team's long-term vision.

That leaves Kadri, 24, as the lone holdover from those lean years earlier in the decade who figures to be a key part of the Leafs rebuild.

There's no doubting Kadri's offensive potential. The Leafs' first-round pick in 2009 excites at times, confuses at others. He's compared himself to elite NHL centre John Tavares, but has been outperformed by the New York Islanders captain and was suspended by the team last March for off-ice issues. Team president Brendan Shanahan told reporters "there's a history here" regarding Kadri.

That Kadri is one of only four names could say as much about the Leafs' plan to focus on youth moving forward as much as it does the revolving door of bodies that have been in and out of the organization the past few seasons. The team seems to be behind Kadri, to an extent. After signing him to only a two-year extension after his entry-level deal, the Leafs gave Kadri an even stricter ultimatum this summer, in the form of a one-year, $4.1 million contract.

And Kadri's not shying away from the intentions of the deal.

"That's basically it," Kadri tells VICE of the "prove it" nature of his contract.

"It's the kind of contract where you have to do what you can. I know they like me and they like the way I play. But they want to see me come in in the best shape possible and I'm totally confident that's exactly what's going to happen."

New Leafs coach Mike Babcock told reporters earlier this summer that he expects Kadri to be an elite player, which didn't take the London, Ontario native by surprise. Instead, it serves as motivation.

"I know coach Babcock wants me to be an elite player and that's what I expect of myself," he says. It's what most Leafs fans have always expected of Kadri, from the moment former general manager Brian Burke called his name No. 7 overall in the 2009 draft.

"I've never wanted to be average. I've always wanted to be above average. This summer, with the work that I've been putting in I feel pretty confident in where my physical fitness is going to be and that should reflect in my play."

He continually mentions his fitness as the focus of his offseason. He hits the gym five times a week and does two-a-days "a couple times a week." By focusing on footwork, agility, strength, endurance and by making changes to his diet, Kadri believes the work he's put in this offseason will help him become faster and quicker, in line with the skill and speed components that have become the focus for many teams in today's NHL.

With the Leafs' rebuild continuing in earnest, Kadri has an opportunity to solidify his place as the team's first-line centre next season. Perhaps more importantly, though, in a season that could see offensively-gifted rookie forwards William Nylander, Kasperi Kapanen and recent fourth overall selection Mitch Marner crack the big club, Kadri has a chance to become a leader in the dressing room and move on from what's been a rocky road with the Leafs so far.

"That's a role that if I'm given, I'm going to do everything I can to succeed in," he says.

With words like "character" and "culture change" being the latest in a long line of buzzwords to surround this Leafs club, Kadri will have to prove himself in a number of ways next season. He'll have to shake off the inconsistent last few seasons and be the exemplary voice of leadership in a locker room that will so desperately need some moving forward, and he'll have to produce offensively at a consistent pace, in addition to his highlight-reel goals.

If the latter of his opportunities is soon to be proven, it will be the former that will require more fine tuning and hard work.

"(Babcock) said he wants his best players to be his hardest-working players and that's something I can appreciate. I've turned the page on last season and I'm trying to look forward and get myself into the best possible shape come September."

Looking a little deeper at the numbers, Kadri may be closer than many figure to becoming an elite offensive centre. Stephen Burtch has done excellent work to chart Kadri's progression and figures his numbers are comparable to that of Derek Stepan, who just signed a six-year, $39 million contract with the New York Rangers.

The term rebuild doesn't scare Kadri. He wants to be part of it and sees the team's plan as more of a retool than a full rebuild. You might not agree with his assessment, but of course, that likely won't bother him much. To become the elite player Babcock expects him to be will involve shutting out voices of distraction, demonstrating focus and showcasing leadership. If he can become the player many know he's capable of, the Leafs' next season will be a little bit brighter.

Or at the very least, to Kadri, a little more interesting.

"We have talent, we have guys that are trying to prove some things," he says. "To me, that makes us a pretty intriguing team."