Nazem Kadri said he has no plans to appeal his four-game suspension for his hit to Edmonton’s Matt Fraser’s head.

“What are you gonna do,” Kadri said after the Maple Leafs practice Wednesday, where he faced the media after the punishment by the NHL Department of Player Safety was announced.

“Do the time and come back 100 per cent strong.”

Kadri, who will lose $141,463.41 in salary, is deemed a repeat offender because he was suspended three games last year for a run-in with Minnesota goalie Niklas Backstrom. Since it happened within the 18-month time period the NHL’s rules outline to qualify repeat offender status, his fine was increased by almost two-and-a-half times what it would normally be.

“Yeah . . . definitely a repeat offender thing there,” said Kadri, whose suspension begins Thursday’s home game against San Jose. “The probation (from the Backstrom hit) is 18 months I think and it’s been 17, so another tough break.”

Both Fraser and Backstrom suffered a concussion.

Kadri insisted he is not a “dirty player” and he tried to apologize to Fraser on the ice.

“I haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet . . . but I will in the future for sure,” he said. “It wasn’t my intention to hurt him or anyone. It was obvious I felt bad about it on the ice when it happened.”

The Leafs will be strapped for forwards when they meet the Sharks, who are desperately fighting for a playoff spot, five points behind eighth-place L.A. Kings and Calgary heading into Wednesday night.

Kadri’s loss coincides with a lower-body injury to Peter Holland, and coach Peter Horachek says Holland will be out at least the next two games.

Horachek said it’s likely the Leafs will decide between calling up either Greg McKegg or Sam Carrick, “and we’re leaning to Carrick.”

The penalty comes closely on the heels of a three-game team suspension for being late for practice. Kadri’s lifestyle choices and behaviour were called into question by the coaching staff and management. Kadri accepted blame and vowed to rebound as a better player and person.

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“It’s good for him, good lessons he’s going through,” Horachek said. “He’s facing some adversity and he’s dealing with it . . . and there’s the idea here that it makes him stronger, so he can tell the next person who comes along (this path) his experiences. That leadership is part of it. I don’t think he’s a dirty player, I think he needs to play with a hard edge and finish his checks. (Fraser) was in a vulnerable position, and these things happen.”

Kadri said he argued in his conference call with the league that he wasn’t trying to injure Fraser. Kadri said he will not change the way he plays.

“No . . . no, not at all,” said Kadri. “You still have to play hard every night. You do what you can to help your team and playing physical gets you into games more. That situation happened very quickly. It’s always tough when you miss this many games. You’re not with your teammates and that’s the hardest part, I don’t care about the money. But it’s a tough situation and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

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