TORONTO — When Nazem Kadri opined before training camp last year that he could be a role model for Auston Matthews and the young Maple Leafs, many people snickered.

They thought Kadri should keep his own checkered career on track before concerning himself with the stable of impressionable kids Toronto was developing. But this September, Kadri’s ninth camp since being a hot-shot first-round pick from the London Knights, he’s buoyed by a career-high 61 points, an effort that players such as Matthews — and Leafs management — couldn’t help noticing.

“I had to learn the hard way, through my mistakes,” Kadri said Tuesday as he joined the club’s summer workouts. “I’ve come a long way from that, in showing the young guys what to do and what not to do.”

The same cocky attitude that endeared him to scouts was a detriment in his early years, and his undisciplined streak hurt him on and off the ice. But an intervention of sorts, a team suspension a couple of years ago, put Kadri straight. It has led to better numbers, including perfect attendance last season, trust from coach Mike Babcock, and the contract that will keep paying him an average of $4.5 million US to the summer of 2021.

In addition to centring young wingers — this season perhaps flanked by Zach Hyman and Connor Brown — Kadri continues to get under the opposition’s skin, a league leader in penalties drawn, usually staying on the right side of the diving criteria. He feels it’s those little parts of the game that can help influence the newbies.

“On the ice (Matthews and his ilk) are pretty talented and I thought I might be able to help him out with a couple of areas defensively. (Off ice), I just know how things go, I know how this city works, what to look out for.

“I want to take another step and evolve in the same direction the team is going.”

SUMMER KNIGHTS

Kadri was not at his usual training base through late August with the rest of the Leafs at their practice rink. He chose to skate and scrimmage with a select group in his home town of London, Ont.

“We have a bunch of guys down there that I usually train with (ex-Knights and Stanley Cup champions) Drew Doughty, Corey Perry, guys such as that. We have a good little thing going on, it’s a good (workout). I think I leaned out a lot this summer, gained some muscle, and feel a lot faster.

“I just took my time this off-season, spent a little more with my family, try and make up for lost time. I don’t get to see them too much during regular season. I feel bad my two little sisters just had kids, I’m a new uncle and I wanted to spend some time with them, pamper them a bit.”

MAC IS BACK

Curtis McElhinney, the Leafs’ 34-year-old backup goalie, won’t get grief about being the old man anymore.

In a summer that tipped dressing room demographics, two 36-year-olds were added in Ron Hainsey and Dominic Moore, while Patrick Marleau will be 38 in a couple of weeks.

“I’m getting young, apparently,” McElhinney cracked as he and No. 1 Frederik Andersen came off the ice. “The guys we’ve added in the off-season are veteran leadership. It won’t hurt, that’s for sure, and it’ll be a positive experience for all the kids around here.”

McElhinney, who quietly signed a two-year deal in July paying him $850,000 per season, is happy to have a home, compared to some unemployed understudies who had a nervous summer.

“It’s nice to have that security, but really, it’s back to square one,” McElhinney said of proving himself, mostly in the mentally demanding back-to-back starts. “The big thing is that I get to continue with the way last year went. It was good to get picked up on waivers, land here and have a fun second half of the year.”

COMING UP ROSEN

Calle Rosen was being interviewed Tuesday when countryman Andreas Borgman walked by and pulled one of those distracting tactics popular among veteran NHLers. It is just another sign of how much at home the young Swedish free agents are feeling before camp, along with No. 1 pick Timothy Liljegren.

“It’s great to be here,” said Rosen, who had 33 points in 93 regular-season games with the Vaxjo club the past two seasons. “It’s nice to be able to speak some Swedish in the locker room, but in the end it doesn’t matter what country we come from.”

Like Borgman, he saw more opportunity in Toronto than other NHL cities who expressed interest.

“It’s a young team, it will get better,” Rosen said. “I’m aiming for the Leafs going into camp (both UFAs will otherwise start with the Marlies). The NHL is my dream, like any other guy.”

LOOSE LEAFS

Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe will handle the Leafs rookies during the three-team tournament with Ottawa and Montreal this weekend at Ricoh Coliseum ... Kadri on one of Marleau’s intangibles: “confidence in those highly stressful games.” ... Having come aboard late last season, McElhinney says he looks forward to spending a couple of weeks before camp hanging about with Andersen, getting to know him and strengthening their bond ... Former Leafs enforcer Colton Orr has a cameo in the upcoming movie Goon II.

lhornby@postmedia.com