Maple Leafs' Kadri wants to be role model after tumultuous season

Nazem Kadri says he's ready to take on a leadership role with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"I think I've become more mature, and learned how to handle myself in certain situations, than I did in previous years," he told TSN's Mark Masters on Saturday. "I'm ready to step up for this team and try and be a role model and a leader as much as I can."

The 24-year-old forward was held out of two games in March for missing a team meeting and arriving late to practice. He was suspended four contests for a hit to the head of Edmonton Oilers forward Matt Fraser one week later.

"You learn from your mistakes, and I've definitely come a long way since then," Kadri said. "I'm just ready to turn the page and have a clean slate with a fresh start with a coaching staff that definitely believes in me, and is willing to help me and us as a team, so that's the positive thing about this."

The center recorded 39 points in 73 games last season - five points fewer than he put up over 48 contests in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign - but he appears ready to impress new head coach Mike Babcock.

"I'll just be prepared," Kadri said. "I think that's his message for everybody: His expectations are high for me and high for this team. Obviously for myself, my expectations are even higher."

Babcock is encouraged by Kadri and fellow center Tyler Bozak so far.

"Naz has had a good summer, (and) he wants to be good," Babcock said. "I sure like what I've seen. He's a guy I'm going to focus strongly on, him and Bozak, trying to help them become what they're capable of being.

"I've been impressed with him. He's got a long way to go, but he's interested. Anybody interested in getting better is going to get better."