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Dreamer: My Life On the Edge
An outspoken, inspirational memoir from a charismatic athlete in the spotlight,
Dreamer
is the moving story of the first Muslim hockey player to win the Stanley Cup, and the impossible dreams he made a reality.
No one who knows the game is unfamiliar with the story of the NHL’s first Muslim Stanley Cup winner, Nazem Kadri, nor does anyone doubt his warmth and openness in front of a microphone, or his eagerness to challenge the next generation of Muslim athletes. He is a league All-Star, a highlight-reel player, and someone who has been called upon to be the face of his community from the moment he put on skates.
Nazem Kadri was a top-ten draft pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs, chosen not only for his elite skills but because he would reflect Toronto’s immense diversity and huge Muslim population. And he was soon a fan favourite, not only with a new generation of diverse fans, but with traditionalists too, who admired his willingness to play the game with old-school toughness.
In the end, he was traded to Colorado as management sought to shake up the team. But it was the Avalanche, not the Leafs, who benefitted most, and Toronto fans missed him. When Colorado won the Stanley Cup in 2022, Kadri (by then a fan favourite in Denver) was a clutch player in high-pressure games. Today he is a veteran leader with the Calgary Flames, and still making the highlight reels.
But the core of Kadri's story is what happened off the ice—both shocking and heartwarming. Kadri faced brutal anti-Muslim harassment during Colorado's Cup run from Blues fans and received incredible support from Denver fans. When a controversy arose about an uncalled penalty on the championship-winning goal, this founding member of the league’s Hockey Diversity Alliance used the opportunity to make humorous t-shirts, which raised over $250,000 for the Kadri Foundation.
And when he had his traditional day with the Stanley Cup, he took it to the mosque in his hometown of London, Ontario, along with the message that the highest success, not just in hockey but in life, is a destiny any of us can choose.
No one who knows the game is unfamiliar with the story of the NHL’s first Muslim Stanley Cup winner, Nazem Kadri, nor does anyone doubt his warmth and openness in front of a microphone, or his eagerness to challenge the next generation of Muslim athletes. He is a league All-Star, a highlight-reel player, and someone who has been called upon to be the face of his community from the moment he put on skates.
Nazem Kadri was a top-ten draft pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs, chosen not only for his elite skills but because he would reflect Toronto’s immense diversity and huge Muslim population. And he was soon a fan favourite, not only with a new generation of diverse fans, but with traditionalists too, who admired his willingness to play the game with old-school toughness.
In the end, he was traded to Colorado as management sought to shake up the team. But it was the Avalanche, not the Leafs, who benefitted most, and Toronto fans missed him. When Colorado won the Stanley Cup in 2022, Kadri (by then a fan favourite in Denver) was a clutch player in high-pressure games. Today he is a veteran leader with the Calgary Flames, and still making the highlight reels.
But the core of Kadri's story is what happened off the ice—both shocking and heartwarming. Kadri faced brutal anti-Muslim harassment during Colorado's Cup run from Blues fans and received incredible support from Denver fans. When a controversy arose about an uncalled penalty on the championship-winning goal, this founding member of the league’s Hockey Diversity Alliance used the opportunity to make humorous t-shirts, which raised over $250,000 for the Kadri Foundation.
And when he had his traditional day with the Stanley Cup, he took it to the mosque in his hometown of London, Ontario, along with the message that the highest success, not just in hockey but in life, is a destiny any of us can choose.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published October 15, 2024
35 people are currently reading
314 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
October 12, 2024
I had the opportunity to read an Advanced Reading Copy of this memoir and as someone who doesn’t follow hockey closely, I really enjoyed this book. Nazem Kadri has had a headline grabbing career and he’s taken a lot
of heat in the press but his story as a Muslim kid in a sport where most of the other faces on the ice were white was inspiring and really beautiful at times.
There’s some great messages in these pages about overcoming adversity and proving your haters wrong. It’s an easy read that would be great for middle schoolers looking for a boost to get them through tough times.
I liked this one a lot!
of heat in the press but his story as a Muslim kid in a sport where most of the other faces on the ice were white was inspiring and really beautiful at times.
There’s some great messages in these pages about overcoming adversity and proving your haters wrong. It’s an easy read that would be great for middle schoolers looking for a boost to get them through tough times.
I liked this one a lot!
September 9, 2025
This is the story of a young boys determination and perseverance, against all odds, to play hockey in the National Hockey League (NHL).
A story full of life lessons, the love and support of family and the courage to fulfill his dreams.
Highly Recommended!
A story full of life lessons, the love and support of family and the courage to fulfill his dreams.
Highly Recommended!
October 19, 2024
bottom line: it's a sports memoir for a player who still has years left to play, so like he told lou, "I only know about me." he dished some dirt about guys in front offices, but he kept any less than positive opinions he had about other players to himself. he probably spent the most time talking up kessel, marner, Colton Orr, and mackinnon, and the stories from inside the leafs (and to a much lesser extent the Avs) were great even as a fan of only one of those teams in the era he was writing about. I found some of the stuff he said about early hits he got in trouble for kinda 🙄, but as a guy who's still actively playing, I don't really see how he could frame those moments any other way. one of the drawbacks to publishing a memoir now imo.
I listened to the audiobook, which he reads. Normally I prefer they hire professional voice actors for audioooks, but memoirs are my exception, and I enjoyed his reading of it. it's a book that's serviceably written but nothing brilliant, so I personally think the audiobook is the way to go as it's well-suited for oral storytelling.
primarily intended for the naz fans among us, but also interesting for understanding how the pressures build for pro athletes long before they make the show and the unique pressures of non-white players who never get to be *just* hockey players. like Naz didn't even get to win the Stanley Cup without racialized threats of violence against him and his family that were so serious that they had cops posted outside his family's house and escorting him into games. I think the way he talks about it is careful and intentional, but he also doesn't shy away from it either, and while he doesn't flat out say it's baked into the infrastructure of hockey, the bread crumbs are there.
I listened to the audiobook, which he reads. Normally I prefer they hire professional voice actors for audioooks, but memoirs are my exception, and I enjoyed his reading of it. it's a book that's serviceably written but nothing brilliant, so I personally think the audiobook is the way to go as it's well-suited for oral storytelling.
primarily intended for the naz fans among us, but also interesting for understanding how the pressures build for pro athletes long before they make the show and the unique pressures of non-white players who never get to be *just* hockey players. like Naz didn't even get to win the Stanley Cup without racialized threats of violence against him and his family that were so serious that they had cops posted outside his family's house and escorting him into games. I think the way he talks about it is careful and intentional, but he also doesn't shy away from it either, and while he doesn't flat out say it's baked into the infrastructure of hockey, the bread crumbs are there.
October 28, 2024
I was a big fan of Naz when he was a Knight and a Leaf. He always played with a huge chip on his shoulder, it made him hard nosed and gritty, fun to watch at times but also frustrating to watch take dumb penalties. You can really hear this attitude through his words in the book. Had he of taken more accountability when dealing with coaches (nearly every coach had the same issues with him) or has he taken accountability in his suspensions (he basically takes non in the book, calls many I've reactions, always claims he had no intent to make a dirty play) he probably could have had more regular season games and playoff games in his career. The most important lessons from this book are "how not to act". Liked to watch him play, just can't get behind his bad attitude. It starts in junior with him being picky where he would go and continues all the way til present day. I was a bigger fan before the book than I am after.
October 24, 2024
Big spoiler: pro hockey player not good at writing.
December 28, 2024
i swear this man is resiliency personified
naz will always be one of my favourite players in the league, both for his current play as well as the nostalgia. all while he was recapping the cup run, i kept shouting out cheers almost as if i was hyping him up, cause it was so fun to relive that in retrospect, especially from the perspective of one of the most main players. i remember every second of that postseason, and naz was a huge factor in their win, so it was nice to hear his thoughts on it all. but it was also painful and rage inducing, remembering what he went through. i will never forgive st. louis for that. but he’s also one of my favourite players because of his character
i really respect naz as a person. so much. he has been through so much but has still had the determination and strength to persevere through it all, in ways that i will never be able to understand. he has a lot of integrity and stays true to who he is, regardless of the circumstances. i like that he didn’t mince words, giving his genuine opinions and feelings towards things. like when he talked about how happy he was to score that hat trick in game four against the blues because he was pissed off and wanted them to suffer for their threats towards him and his family. he wasn’t overly nice to placate anyone; he was honest. while describing his less than stellar moments, he held himself accountable while still defending and explaining himself to outline his true intent. he clearly has an abundance of confidence and self respect, and i love that
in terms of the writing, i thought he did a good job. he said things in a very straightforward way, yet was also very insightful at the same time. he included some quotes that were great due to their simultaneous simplicity and wisdom
it was nice to hear his perspective on things i was fully aware of as well as things i never knew about. i knew all the game context and big plays, but i didn’t know about the behind the scenes stuff, naturally. the fact that the cops were the ones who alerted naz to the threats. cops being stationed outside his hotel room and his family’s house back in denver. the extent of his thumb injury and *how* he was able to come back as soon as he iconically did. it was cool to see that authentic recount on events i remember so clearly, especially since those events directly revolved around him. i also enjoyed learning more about things i didn’t have as much knowledge on, such as his early time with the leafs and the details of the incidents that led to his bad reputation
that being said though, while he had a lot of good takes, introspection, and interesting knowledge on the game of hockey, i do kinda wish this book had been a littleeee bit more about his life and personal experiences. it also would’ve been nice to see an expanded view of his interpretation of certain events and the smaller details about some of them, specifically the cup run, st. louis bullshit, and his involvement with the HDA. + i’m surprised he didn’t touch on things like berube’s underlyingly racist comments and the ‘stand with naz’ signs (other than the pictures at the end)
and we do. we do stand with naz. i always will
”failure helps form your character.”
naz will always be one of my favourite players in the league, both for his current play as well as the nostalgia. all while he was recapping the cup run, i kept shouting out cheers almost as if i was hyping him up, cause it was so fun to relive that in retrospect, especially from the perspective of one of the most main players. i remember every second of that postseason, and naz was a huge factor in their win, so it was nice to hear his thoughts on it all. but it was also painful and rage inducing, remembering what he went through. i will never forgive st. louis for that. but he’s also one of my favourite players because of his character
i really respect naz as a person. so much. he has been through so much but has still had the determination and strength to persevere through it all, in ways that i will never be able to understand. he has a lot of integrity and stays true to who he is, regardless of the circumstances. i like that he didn’t mince words, giving his genuine opinions and feelings towards things. like when he talked about how happy he was to score that hat trick in game four against the blues because he was pissed off and wanted them to suffer for their threats towards him and his family. he wasn’t overly nice to placate anyone; he was honest. while describing his less than stellar moments, he held himself accountable while still defending and explaining himself to outline his true intent. he clearly has an abundance of confidence and self respect, and i love that
in terms of the writing, i thought he did a good job. he said things in a very straightforward way, yet was also very insightful at the same time. he included some quotes that were great due to their simultaneous simplicity and wisdom
it was nice to hear his perspective on things i was fully aware of as well as things i never knew about. i knew all the game context and big plays, but i didn’t know about the behind the scenes stuff, naturally. the fact that the cops were the ones who alerted naz to the threats. cops being stationed outside his hotel room and his family’s house back in denver. the extent of his thumb injury and *how* he was able to come back as soon as he iconically did. it was cool to see that authentic recount on events i remember so clearly, especially since those events directly revolved around him. i also enjoyed learning more about things i didn’t have as much knowledge on, such as his early time with the leafs and the details of the incidents that led to his bad reputation
that being said though, while he had a lot of good takes, introspection, and interesting knowledge on the game of hockey, i do kinda wish this book had been a littleeee bit more about his life and personal experiences. it also would’ve been nice to see an expanded view of his interpretation of certain events and the smaller details about some of them, specifically the cup run, st. louis bullshit, and his involvement with the HDA. + i’m surprised he didn’t touch on things like berube’s underlyingly racist comments and the ‘stand with naz’ signs (other than the pictures at the end)
and we do. we do stand with naz. i always will
”failure helps form your character.”
September 19, 2025
i’ve been following naz since he played for toronto and you can’t help but root for him (except when he’s playing against your team)! such a little shit on the ice but at least he can back it up with his play. he had some really interesting stories, as well as some sickening ones dealing with racism and religious bigotry in the hockey world. i always love knowing more about what happens behind the scenes in the nhl. hell of a player!
March 2, 2025
Docked a star for describing in detail fighting Victor Hedman and for beating the Lightning in the 2022 cup finals.
But while the sentence structure in this book is a bit simple (he’s a hockey player, not a writer) he had very interesting insights! From the Marner-Babcock story to being the first player to bring the Stanley Cup into a mosque, it was a nice read.
But while the sentence structure in this book is a bit simple (he’s a hockey player, not a writer) he had very interesting insights! From the Marner-Babcock story to being the first player to bring the Stanley Cup into a mosque, it was a nice read.
December 30, 2024
Good book and had some good insights on nazems career.
Didn’t like the way he talked about his suspensions, has been suspended multiple times and for a long time and he acted like he did nothing.
There was also a lot of mistakes within the book, including the same sentence twice in one paragraph.
There was a couple cool quotes.
Didn’t like the way he talked about his suspensions, has been suspended multiple times and for a long time and he acted like he did nothing.
There was also a lot of mistakes within the book, including the same sentence twice in one paragraph.
There was a couple cool quotes.
July 22, 2025
Audiobook! Had low expectations and obviously not well written but still enjoyed it and had interesting insight if you’re a hockey fan! The hockey lingo was so fun…like if my dad wrote a book
May 22, 2025
Fascinating story, great behind the scenes inside. Also confirms Colton Orr is the 🐐
September 24, 2025
It’s a sports memoir. Hard work and a little bit of a lack of self awareness.
December 19, 2024
Biiiiiiiig Nazem Kadri girlie here.
I loved hearing him tell his own story. It was interesting to hear how the racism and bigoted comments he grew up hearing influence the way he plays the game of hockey. And in turn, how that confidence and aggressive play is perceived around the league with conscious and unconscious biases.
Plus it was fun to relive the Avs 2022 Stanley Cup run and learn how hard Kadri fought to be the first Muslim to hoist the Stanley Cup.
I loved hearing him tell his own story. It was interesting to hear how the racism and bigoted comments he grew up hearing influence the way he plays the game of hockey. And in turn, how that confidence and aggressive play is perceived around the league with conscious and unconscious biases.
Plus it was fun to relive the Avs 2022 Stanley Cup run and learn how hard Kadri fought to be the first Muslim to hoist the Stanley Cup.
January 6, 2025
okay so I was not expecting a book written by an NHL player from a team I’m not a fan of to make me cry but here we are.
this book alone might have convinced me to move the flames up in my ranking of teams. I always liked Kadri and I’m glad this book cemented that. he’s been through a lot more than I knew and it was really interesting to hear about his entire history in the sport and also get some fun behind the scenes stories that involved other players. I really enjoyed this one.
this book alone might have convinced me to move the flames up in my ranking of teams. I always liked Kadri and I’m glad this book cemented that. he’s been through a lot more than I knew and it was really interesting to hear about his entire history in the sport and also get some fun behind the scenes stories that involved other players. I really enjoyed this one.
January 7, 2025
Great to hear his story. Enjoyed the fact he did the audio book himself.
May 4, 2025
A good sports memoir - some great messages about leadership, adversity, and courage.
July 30, 2025
found out my 2013 trauma still hasn’t healed
January 5, 2025
Great read on the behind the scenes psyche of one of the 2010’s most exciting Maple Leafs. Recommend to Leafs and hockey fans.
March 31, 2025
Interesting to hear the behind the scenes view of stuff I watched through the media.
January 19, 2025
Eloquent writing, action right from the start, and the kind of surprise reveals you want out of a celebrity memoir.
May 15, 2025
Great memoir from a player still in the league. Tells an excellent story of perseverance and believing in yourself to achieve your dreams
July 15, 2025
This was my second nonfiction sports book and I really loved reading this, it was really enjoyable and interesting. As a London Knights, Leafs and now Flames fan, also getting into the Avs, I loved reading about some of the behind the scenes and his experiences with each team.
I think this was very inspiring especially for anyone wanting to go into sports mostly hockey but also just in general. It was interesting to see the change and progress in the league with being more inclusive and the way the game has changed for the players etc. Prior to this I didn’t know a whole lot about Kadri until I started being a Flames fan and really got into hockey. So this was really enjoyable for me to read and learn about him as a player and a person.
I was really invested in this and read it in one sitting. It definitely brought me out of my slump. I would recommend this book to anyone, mostly anyone interested in hockey, I think more specifically the Toronto Maple Leafs (team wise).
The book does mention our big players currently (Matthews, Marner, Tavares, Nylander, Rielly) and it does give a little insight into them, in a positive light, all of which I agree with. I think all leafs fans should read that part and maybe they would get a better understanding of them as people and players. I could say the same with the Avalanche too with Makar, Mackinnon and Rantanen.
I think this was very inspiring especially for anyone wanting to go into sports mostly hockey but also just in general. It was interesting to see the change and progress in the league with being more inclusive and the way the game has changed for the players etc. Prior to this I didn’t know a whole lot about Kadri until I started being a Flames fan and really got into hockey. So this was really enjoyable for me to read and learn about him as a player and a person.
I was really invested in this and read it in one sitting. It definitely brought me out of my slump. I would recommend this book to anyone, mostly anyone interested in hockey, I think more specifically the Toronto Maple Leafs (team wise).
The book does mention our big players currently (Matthews, Marner, Tavares, Nylander, Rielly) and it does give a little insight into them, in a positive light, all of which I agree with. I think all leafs fans should read that part and maybe they would get a better understanding of them as people and players. I could say the same with the Avalanche too with Makar, Mackinnon and Rantanen.
September 29, 2025
Sports memoirs have always been a faveourite of mine! Reading about sports legends often provides me great inspiration, much needed motivation and helps me feel connected to a family of sports enthusiasts. Growing up across from Detroit I spent most of my life surrounded by hockey but there’s not really anything like jr hockey! Nazem lets us in on his journey from the very beginning, sharing stories in a way that reminded me of listening to my grandfather tell his own hockey stories and left me truly hanging on his words.
From the moment I picked this book up I didn’t want to put it down. Thank you Nazem for sharing your struggles, triumphs and advice in a honest and to the point way.
As a mother of young hockey players this memoir shows us what true support looks like and reminds us all to be our own biggest fans. If you’re looking for a quick but interesting read, I highly suggest you add it to your TBR!
From the moment I picked this book up I didn’t want to put it down. Thank you Nazem for sharing your struggles, triumphs and advice in a honest and to the point way.
As a mother of young hockey players this memoir shows us what true support looks like and reminds us all to be our own biggest fans. If you’re looking for a quick but interesting read, I highly suggest you add it to your TBR!
December 5, 2024
I feel like this book came out too early. I think if it came out when he was no longer an active player he play have opened up more. I felt like he was trying to avoid hurting anyones feelings including team management or other players. As a Leaf fan and someone who watched a lot of Kadri’s career through the years it didn’t really tell me anything I didn’t already know. I also feel like it glossed over some very important topics like racism in pro sports and athletes mental health.
August 25, 2025
As an Avalanche fan, Nazeem Kadri will always have a special place in my heart. He was an integral part of our Stanley Cup run in 2022. I loved getting to read about his journey because I didn’t know a ton about his journey pre-Avalanche. It was wonderful getting to read his journey from playing as a kid to making it to an NHL roster. My favorite part was learning about his time with the Avs and what he went through during that Stanley Cup run. This is a great book for any hockey fan.
March 8, 2025
An easy read that provides some interesting insight into the challenges faced by a Muslim growing up and playing hockey in Canada. As others have said, I believe that Kadri has held back a few details due to the fact that his playing career isn’t over yet. We may get the full story once he retires.
September 22, 2025
ive always been a fan of Nazem .hard work and dedication proves anything is possible
November 11, 2024
First off, I love Nazem Kadri. He’d be scrappy and feisty and rub people the wrong way even if he didn’t start off undersized, or carried a funny name on his back, or was the only brown person, or the only Muslim. Kadri has overcome odds, and this book is an interestingly honest recounting of his feelings and missteps along the way. But since he still is playing and hasn’t yet retired, his biography clearly held back on the details that you look for. What exactly did racist people say to him? He is very vague about his battling things like that, only saying that it was hard. This is not an uncommon way athletes (e.g., JackieRobinson or Willie O’Ree) tell their stories. So I’ll cut him some slack here. It IS a very inspirational book, and his forefathers’ story makes you smile… as does his family support.
Knowing him for the most part as a good player, I hadn’t realized that he struggled with his first 3 years with the Leafs… Toronto probably putting players under the greatest scrutiny in the hockey world, especially if you’re the Leafs top pick, and 7th overall. His struggles being the cocky young rookie are filled with self-awareness of missing self-awareness back then. I didn’t realize how Leafs GM Brian Burke was so controlling (unfairly in my opinion) and the coaching staff under Ron Wilson didn’t have faith in Kadri and kept telling him so,so mentally, that resilience he developed growing up put him in good stead. Good for him. And his humbleness is typically Canadian, so that’s is nice too.
Interesting to see his excuses for his suspensions, that he wasn’t trying to be dirty… or sleeping in and missing the team meeting after a wild night after a big loss 😂. And interesting to see the hapless Leafs hire (the super intrusive, hands-on) Mike Babcock for $50 over 8 years and also (the equally controlling spy-master)Lou Lamorello… and them visiting his parents home to see how Naz grew up.
Kadri had a style that was a little repetitive and maybe a little preachy, in a mentoring way. Great for a teenager, but less so for an adult. But the honesty did come out, perhaps in a (too) polite way…. But he’s still playing and around these folks, so he gets a pass on that vagueness, not naming names. He talks about the fight with Joe Thornton and Dave Backes, his wedding dancing in Lebanese tradition at Casa Loma. And meeting up and laughing with Thornton at Marner’s wedding. Nice insights, especially on the fabled Toronto Maple Leaf franchise. Some insights into the Mitch Marner fiasco (ranking his teammates’ worth ethic from 1-23) that got Babcock put in his place… Fired for his mind games!
Final thoughts… the editing could be better. A couple of times, sentences were repeated, eh 😂… The death threats and winning the Cup in a staring role in Colorado was great… Very little about his charity work against racism, but being humble is okay there too, as he delves into his experiences (shallowly again) throughout the book.
Knowing him for the most part as a good player, I hadn’t realized that he struggled with his first 3 years with the Leafs… Toronto probably putting players under the greatest scrutiny in the hockey world, especially if you’re the Leafs top pick, and 7th overall. His struggles being the cocky young rookie are filled with self-awareness of missing self-awareness back then. I didn’t realize how Leafs GM Brian Burke was so controlling (unfairly in my opinion) and the coaching staff under Ron Wilson didn’t have faith in Kadri and kept telling him so,so mentally, that resilience he developed growing up put him in good stead. Good for him. And his humbleness is typically Canadian, so that’s is nice too.
Interesting to see his excuses for his suspensions, that he wasn’t trying to be dirty… or sleeping in and missing the team meeting after a wild night after a big loss 😂. And interesting to see the hapless Leafs hire (the super intrusive, hands-on) Mike Babcock for $50 over 8 years and also (the equally controlling spy-master)Lou Lamorello… and them visiting his parents home to see how Naz grew up.
Kadri had a style that was a little repetitive and maybe a little preachy, in a mentoring way. Great for a teenager, but less so for an adult. But the honesty did come out, perhaps in a (too) polite way…. But he’s still playing and around these folks, so he gets a pass on that vagueness, not naming names. He talks about the fight with Joe Thornton and Dave Backes, his wedding dancing in Lebanese tradition at Casa Loma. And meeting up and laughing with Thornton at Marner’s wedding. Nice insights, especially on the fabled Toronto Maple Leaf franchise. Some insights into the Mitch Marner fiasco (ranking his teammates’ worth ethic from 1-23) that got Babcock put in his place… Fired for his mind games!
Final thoughts… the editing could be better. A couple of times, sentences were repeated, eh 😂… The death threats and winning the Cup in a staring role in Colorado was great… Very little about his charity work against racism, but being humble is okay there too, as he delves into his experiences (shallowly again) throughout the book.
February 11, 2025
As a Calgary Flames fan, a Canadian, and a hockey fan in general, I was excited to read this book. After Kadri won the cup in Colorado and signed with the Flames in free agency, I couldn't believe it, as he was one of my favorite players to watch, and now I got to watch him on our home ice. Gritty players that play with edge and heart are the best kind of players to have on your team, the kind that every other team hates to play against. Kadri is that player, even having his share of controversy after several suspensions, so I was interested in how he discussed this topic. I came away with an understanding of how Kadri's upbringing and experiences as a kid growing up in hockey crazy London Ontario shaped his love for the game, and how his family supported him. The underlying message of how you need to believe in yourself even if others don't in order to make it explains a lot about why he plays with such a chip on his shoulder.
The book touches on how Kadri was continually working to improve his game in order to prove people wrong that doubted him. I appreciated the stories of how hard these athletes really have to perform at a top level, and the sacrifices they make to achieve the ultimate goal and win the hardest trophy in sports to win.
All these guys come up in the league together and many of them have a close friendship and long history even when playing against each other, which Kadri did touch on, but I wished there were more personal stories and anecdotes about his friendships with his teammates, and more behind the scenes type of look into the closeness of a winning locker room. One of the things that Kadri is known for is being an agitator and getting his opponents skin, and mentioned the art of the chirp and how it can change the emotions in a game and get in your opponents head, however I felt it was a missed opportunity not to share some of the best epic chirps he has either received or delivered. Likewise, he mentioned how he wished more players got to play mic'ed up, and how funny it would be for the fans to hear what they say. Would have loved to hear some examples of crazy stuff said during a game that the fans don't usually get to hear.
Finally, Kadri has now been playing with the Flames for a couple seasons, and I was looking forward to hearing his thoughts about the team, culture, and what it means to be now one of the veteran guys in the locker room where a bunch of young guys now try to learn from him. It would have brought the book full circle after hearing all about the legendary players he looked up to when he was young. Sadly, his time with the Flames was not mentioned at all, aside from saying that after the cup win he signed with them in free agency. I only hope this means he will write a sequel, because Kadri still has a lot of hockey left to play, and Flames fans are eagerly awaiting our own chance to see him hoist the cup in Calgary.
The book touches on how Kadri was continually working to improve his game in order to prove people wrong that doubted him. I appreciated the stories of how hard these athletes really have to perform at a top level, and the sacrifices they make to achieve the ultimate goal and win the hardest trophy in sports to win.
All these guys come up in the league together and many of them have a close friendship and long history even when playing against each other, which Kadri did touch on, but I wished there were more personal stories and anecdotes about his friendships with his teammates, and more behind the scenes type of look into the closeness of a winning locker room. One of the things that Kadri is known for is being an agitator and getting his opponents skin, and mentioned the art of the chirp and how it can change the emotions in a game and get in your opponents head, however I felt it was a missed opportunity not to share some of the best epic chirps he has either received or delivered. Likewise, he mentioned how he wished more players got to play mic'ed up, and how funny it would be for the fans to hear what they say. Would have loved to hear some examples of crazy stuff said during a game that the fans don't usually get to hear.
Finally, Kadri has now been playing with the Flames for a couple seasons, and I was looking forward to hearing his thoughts about the team, culture, and what it means to be now one of the veteran guys in the locker room where a bunch of young guys now try to learn from him. It would have brought the book full circle after hearing all about the legendary players he looked up to when he was young. Sadly, his time with the Flames was not mentioned at all, aside from saying that after the cup win he signed with them in free agency. I only hope this means he will write a sequel, because Kadri still has a lot of hockey left to play, and Flames fans are eagerly awaiting our own chance to see him hoist the cup in Calgary.
April 13, 2025
Dreamer: My Life on the Edge tells the story of professional hockey player Nazem Kadri. Nazem grew up in London, Ontario and loved hockey. He would watch Coach’s Corner with his dad all the time, and had a dream of playing hockey. He would go on to play in the OHL, at first with the Kitchner Rangers, before being traded to the London Knights.
After a successful career in the OHL, he would go on to be drafter 7th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs. He imagined playing for the Leafs, but expected to be drafted somewhere else. After spending ten seasons with the Leafs, he would move to Colorado to play with the Avalanche, where he would become the first Muslim player to win the Stanley Cup, that feat coming at the end of the 2021-22 season.
He talks about hate he received, being Muslim. People told him he wouldn’t make it, and he proved them all wrong. Nazem is a perfect example of how you should ignore any haters and continue to pursue your dreams. There will always be people you support you, as Nazem’s family and friends did, and he demonstrates that you should always focus on the support, and not the hate.
He now plays for the Calgary Flames, and has been for the last three seasons. At the time of writing this, in April of 2025, Calgary is fighting for an appearance in the playoffs. Their chances are slim, but they haven’t been mathematically eliminated just yet.
I enjoyed reading about Nazem’s life outside of hockey, as well as some personal stories inside the game that a lot of people don’t hear about, one example being what’s it’s like to have meetings with the Department of Player Safety regarding suspensions. Another example is explaining what’s it’s like to review and sign contracts from the players’ point of view. I can only imagine how anxious it is about moving up to the NHL, and joining a new team as a rookie.
I have always loved reading biographies. The first one I can remember reading was one on Nelson Mandela when I was in Grade 8. Being that I love hockey, I have bought and read a couple of biographies about hockey players, and have more that I will be reading. Some of you may judge me for this, but I support the Toronto Maple Leafs, and all the books I have talk about the lives about players that have played for the Leafs. Look out for those reviews, as involve some well-known players.
After a successful career in the OHL, he would go on to be drafter 7th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs. He imagined playing for the Leafs, but expected to be drafted somewhere else. After spending ten seasons with the Leafs, he would move to Colorado to play with the Avalanche, where he would become the first Muslim player to win the Stanley Cup, that feat coming at the end of the 2021-22 season.
He talks about hate he received, being Muslim. People told him he wouldn’t make it, and he proved them all wrong. Nazem is a perfect example of how you should ignore any haters and continue to pursue your dreams. There will always be people you support you, as Nazem’s family and friends did, and he demonstrates that you should always focus on the support, and not the hate.
He now plays for the Calgary Flames, and has been for the last three seasons. At the time of writing this, in April of 2025, Calgary is fighting for an appearance in the playoffs. Their chances are slim, but they haven’t been mathematically eliminated just yet.
I enjoyed reading about Nazem’s life outside of hockey, as well as some personal stories inside the game that a lot of people don’t hear about, one example being what’s it’s like to have meetings with the Department of Player Safety regarding suspensions. Another example is explaining what’s it’s like to review and sign contracts from the players’ point of view. I can only imagine how anxious it is about moving up to the NHL, and joining a new team as a rookie.
I have always loved reading biographies. The first one I can remember reading was one on Nelson Mandela when I was in Grade 8. Being that I love hockey, I have bought and read a couple of biographies about hockey players, and have more that I will be reading. Some of you may judge me for this, but I support the Toronto Maple Leafs, and all the books I have talk about the lives about players that have played for the Leafs. Look out for those reviews, as involve some well-known players.
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