Any time a team like the Avalanche — a squad that’s been on the brink of glory for years — wins the Stanley Cup, there will be more than a few stories of vindication. Usually, these stories fall into a few camps.
There are the young, great players getting what will probably be the first of many flowers. There are the established, consistent veterans who have been waiting for their moment of hockey ecstasy for years. And then there are those talented guys who people have unfairly maligned throughout their careers.
In this case: that’s Colorado’s Nazem Kadri. While he eventually got to hoist the Cup, it was a challenging postseason for the 31-year-old center (on top of an already challenging career).
LIFT THAT CUP, @43_Kadri! 🙌#StanleyCup | @Avalanche pic.twitter.com/xPzmQa0Y65
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 27, 2022
Kadri first notably got into it with Jordan Binnington, who threw a water bottle at the forward during the second round of the playoffs. Kadri then drew unwarranted ire from the Blues, which had him respond quite well in kind.
Later, in the Western Conference Finals, Kadri was injured by a dangerous hit from Evander Kane. That injury meant we wouldn’t see Kadri play in the Stanley Cup Final, where he played hero for the Avs.
With all of that chaos behind him, Kadri had some strong thoughts for any of his critics as he sat on top of the NHL’s mountain for the first time:
Note: NSFW language is used in the video below.
“For everyone that thought I was a liability in the playoffs you can kiss my ass.”
Nazem Kadri says it all after hoisting the #StanleyCup 😂 pic.twitter.com/8FAIFhT9Bq
— Tim and Friends (@timandfriends) June 27, 2022
Whoa, hey, Nazem, there might be kids watching! On the other hand: Is he wrong? Has he not earned it? Ah, heck. Carry on, my man!
Fans on hockey Twitter loved Kadri’s refreshing comment toward all of his haters as he celebrated his first Stanley Cup.
