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Nazem Kadri will face two-game suspension if he returns to AHL

Toronto Ottawa Rookies Hockey

Toronto Maple Leafs Nazem Kadri skates in the warm-up before the first period of a NHL rookie tournament game against the Ottawa Senators in London, Ontario, Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Dave Chidley)

AP

When word circulated that the Toronto Maple Leafs decided to call up prospect Nazem Kadri, many people reacted to the timing of the decision as a sign of panic.

While time will tell if the calculated risk proves out to be a boon or a blunder, there is at least one reason why Leafs GM Brian Burke might deserve some credit for good timing. If Kadri were to stick with their AHL affiliate the Toronto Marlies, he wouldn’t be able to play for two games.

That’s because the minor league suspended him for two games as a disciplinary measure for his actions in Thursday’s game between the Marlies and the Adirondack Phantoms. Kadri was reprimanded for slashing an opposing player and the unsportsmanlike conduct that came with it, according to The Canadian Press.

Of course, if Kadri sticks with the pro club for the rest of his hockey career, this suspension will be pretty meaningless. It doesn’t carry over to the NHL, so Kadri can go about playing at his leisure.

The question is: should the suspension have followed him to the big leagues?