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Leafs’ Kadri takes elbow to head, leaves game with “headaches”

Nazem Kadri

The Toronto Maple Leafs organization is drawing some criticism about the way it handles players with possible concussions after Nazem Kadri eventually left a Toronto Marlies contest after taking an elbow to the head.

Zack Stortini received a game misconduct for delivering the elbow on Kadri in the second period of Wednesday’s Marlies-Hamilton Bulldogs game. Here’s video of that vicious hit, via Leafs Nation:

Kadri came right back out for the ensuing power play, only to eventually leave the game with what teammate Dallas Eakins called “headaches,” according to the Globe & Mail’s James Mirtle.

As mentioned earlier, some are questioning the way the Maple Leafs/Marlies handle potential concussion situations.

Defenseman Jake Gardiner suffered what seemed like a concussion on Dec. 8, but the organization appears hesitant to label it that way. (Mirtle reports that GM Brian Burke most recently described the symptoms as “whiplash.”)

The Leafs also got into similar (some might say semantic) arguments about James Reimer’s possible concussion last season, with sites such as Leafs Nation arguing that they rushed him back too quickly.

It’s a troubling setback for Kadri, but some argue it’s also the latest example of an organization that needs to change its ways.