Nazem Kadri, a Canadian and a Muslim, was asked about Donald Trump on Wednesday, two days after the bombastic Republican presidential candidate urged the United States to undertake, in the name of national security, a “total and complete shutdown” of Muslims entering the country.

As a centre with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Kadri often travels to the U.S. for business. A Trump spokesman told The Associated Press the proposed shutdown would also apply to tourists. It was not immediately clear if it would apply to professional athletes, as well.

“I think he’s hurting his own campaign, to be honest,” Kadri said. “I mean, I think he’s pretty delusional. But his opinion’s his opinion.”

The 25-year-old said he has only been paying cursory attention to the political landscape in the lead-up to the Republican primaries — which start in February — but he was aware of Trump’s remarks. They were only the latest in a string of inflammatory, anti-Muslim rhetoric from the campaign, which has included talk of a database to track Muslims.

Trump has spread that rhetoric to sports. In an address from the White House on Sunday night, President Barack Obama reminded viewers “Muslim Americans are our friends and our neighbours; our co-workers, our sports heroes.”

On Twitter, Trump, who has been photographed alongside Muhammad Ali, asked: “What sport is he talking about, and who? Is Obama profiling?”

“It’s unfortunate that this is what it’s come to,” Kadri said. “But I mean, that being said, I’m lucky to live in a country like Canada, where people of political stature don’t say those kinds of things to make people feel out of place.”

Trump did not offer a timetable for his proposed ban. His statement was open-ended on Monday: “Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life.”

The Leafs have four U.S.-born players on the active roster: Winger James van Riemsdyk (Middletown, N.J.), goaltender Garret Sparks (Elmhurst, Ill.) and defencemen Matt Hunwick (Warren, Mich.) and Jake Gardiner (Minnetonka, Minn.). Sparks, 22, said he did not vote in the last U.S. presidential election, in 2012, and that he does not generally pay much attention to politics: “There’s not a whole lot I can do about it.”

Uncomfortable as he was discussing politics, he was still aware of Trump’s remarks.

“Not a good idea,” Sparks said. “Not a good look. It’s 2015.”

At Toronto’s west-end practice facility, goaltenders sit across from Kadri’s stall.

“I think, just morally,” Sparks said, “you can’t say stuff like that.”

Hunwick was also hesitant to discuss politics, but said he takes voting seriously, doing his best to stay informed. He said he has voted via absentee ballot at least once.

“You wish you had some real strong options that you felt strongly about,” he said. “But at this point, it’s so early, unfortunately nothing’s jumping out in terms of a great candidate.”

Trump is not averse to controversial remarks, Hunwick said, reserving judgment on the latest furor — which has made waves around the world.

“I’ve seen the headline, I haven’t had the chance to watch the video or hear the audio on it,” he said. “I don’t want to comment on it too much.”

Kadri, who was born to Lebanese parents in London, Ont., said the topic has been raised in family discussions.

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“We obviously don’t agree with what he’s saying,” he said. “But, I mean, everyone’s entitled to their own opinion.”

Politicians from across the U.S., including some Republicans, have admonished Trump for his proposed ban this week. (Fellow Republican hopeful Jeb Bush tweeted: “Donald Trump is unhinged.”) And The Washington Post compiled a list of prominent athletes who are also Muslim – a list that included Ali, retired basketball legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Hakeem Olajuwon, and Kadri.

“This is what I wanted, I wanted to make the game more diverse, and for kids not to feel out of place and feel like hockey’s just for a certain genre of person,” Kadri said. “I’ve tried to live my dream, and I think everyone is trying, as well.”

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