Let’s be clear right from the top: Nazem Kadri was always a good NHL player.

For all of the nonsense around him over the years – the headlines, the frustrated coaches, the off-ice issues, the trade rumours – he was always a talent. For some reason, it feels like Kadri has always been viewed as this disappointment in this market – as someone who couldn’t measure up to some insane standard of play, likely because he was one of only two players the Maple Leafs drafted higher than 10th overall between 1993 and 2011. (The other being poor Luke Schenn.)

The franchise’s utter inability to rebuild properly was projected onto Kadri somehow, distorting how good he was through comparisons to local kids turned instant superstars like Steven Stamkos and John Tavares.

Now everyone is seeing Kadri’s potential, in his numbers and in his play. And it would be unfair to try to rewrite it all as some miraculous transformation, at age 26, when what was there the last four seasons was pretty impressive, too.

Between 2012-13 and last season, Kadri ranked 76th in the NHL in primary points (goals and first assists) at even strength, putting him firmly among first-line players (the top 90). That’s ahead of players who have been lionized for their offensive ability far more than Kadri, the likes of Aleksander Barkov, Joe Thornton, Marian Hossa, James van Riemsdyk, Bryan Little and Eric Staal.

It’s not far off of Daniel Sedin, David Krejci and Anze Kopitar, either.

Kadri’s work on the power play was just as strong, as he sits as the most productive Leaf on the man advantage not named Phil Kessel in this time frame (with roughly four points for every 60 minutes at 5-on-4).

His possession stats put him in the top 90, t00, which is why Kadri has always had many backers in the analytics crowd.

He did a lot of things well, and he accomplished all that with some suspect linemates. The ever dependable Leo Komarov has spent the most time on his wing. But Kadri also had long stretches with David Clarkson, Joffrey Lupul, Nikolai Kulemin, Dan Winnik, Mike Santorelli and Mason Raymond, most of whom are out of the league.

And still he managed to push into first-liner production and solid two-way play in his age 22 to 25 seasons.

Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri (43) looks on during the game in which he scored two goals against the Calgary Flames at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Flames 4-0. Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

This year has been something else, and it’s due to a host of factors. Kadri has better linemates, especially with William Nylander now established on his right wing. But Kadri has also been far more fortunate, with his shooting percentage rocketing from a ridiculously low 6.5 per cent last season to 14.2 per cent after scoring twice in the Leafs convincing win over Calgary on Monday.

“Obviously last year was a year like no other in terms of just breaks and bounces and shooting percentage and all that stuff,” Kadri said. “So you figure it had to change if you stuck with it.”

Another part of his success, however, is that Kadri has a better role on the second best power-play unit in the NHL, one that plays more to his strengths. He has spent much of the season in the high slot, with Auston Matthews on one wing, Nylander on the other, Komarov in front of the net for garbage duty and Jake Gardiner on the blueline.

They’ve formed a diamond, pictured below, with Kadri serving as the centrepiece – someone in prime shooting position whenever there’s either a rebound or an opening to receive a quick pass.

The Leafs have deviated from this a little of late but this has been their most common power-play formation this season. And it’s helped Kadri score more goals than ever before.

“He’s in a way better spot on the power play now for him with the way he shoots the puck,” Leafs coach Mike Babcock explained. “It’s way better to be in the middle than on the flank, even though he scored on a good cross in front tonight. That [power-play positioning] really helps him for sure. And [goal scoring] is like anything: It’s contagious. When you start scoring, you think you can and [you] take a little bit more time when you get it instead of rushing. And you bury it.”

Kadri’s work on the man advantage has been marvelous. He leads the Leafs with 10 goals there – Nylander is second with half that many – which is tied for second in the league with Sidney Crosby. (Kadri’s previous career high was seven power-play goals, as he was typically counted on to be more of a setup type.)

Part of why this has worked is his superlative vision – something that allows him to know when and where to make which play. But part of it has also been hard work, as Babcock challenged Kadri to not only get better defensively but to also work on his shot last season.

Kadri explained that process wasn’t necessarily about shooting harder but shooting faster and smarter. Especially given where he has been getting looks this season.

“I tried to work on my arm strength,” Kadri said. “And the mechanics of the shot – being able to get it off quick enough. I’m really starting to learn that it’s not about the power of your shot. It’s just how quick and accurate you can be. It seems to be paying off.

“For one-timers and stuff, you don’t really need the big windup. A lot of guys think you do because the harder the shot the better. But just a quick little release and oftentimes there’s screens or it could hit something in front. I think your best bet is just to get it off as quick as possible.”

The dots here are shots and the circles are goals, on the power play. The difference this season for Kadri, in a different spot on the top unit, is dramatic. Source: icydata.hockey

The end result is Kadri now has the kind of numbers that will get him properly recognized as a top-line talent.

He is 11th in the NHL in goal scoring, tied with Vladimir Tarasenko and one ahead of Tavares. He is on pace for 36 goals when his previous career high was 20.

Points-wise, Kadri is on pace for 60, which would put him in the top 40 to 45 players in the league at season’s end.

Always good, he is now making the case he can be great. Or at least an integral piece on a great team.

All for the bargain basement price of $4.5-million on the cap for another five years.

“It’s exciting,” Kadri said of scoring his 100th career goal against Calgary, which drew a big response from the Air Canada Centre crowd. “It’s exciting to be able to share with my teammates. Obviously I put in a lot of hard work. But at the end of the day, the only reason why I care about that is because it helps our team win. It doesn’t really matter how it goes in or who scores. As long as it’s in the back of the net we’re happy.”