Nazem Kadri to join Hockey Night in Canada

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nazem Kadri will appear on Hockey Night in Canada as a guest analyst during Saturday's Columbus-Pittsburgh playoff game.

Kadri (@43_Kadri on Twitter) will join Ron MacLean and the Studio 42 crew of P.J. Stock, Elliotte Friedman and AndiPetrillo for the Hockey Tonight pre-game show (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 6:30 p.m. ET) and the second intermission of the Blue Jackets-Penguins game to provide analysis and his own perspective on the night's action.

“I can’t wait to be part of the broadcast team for the legendary Hockey Night in Canada this weekend,” said Kadri. “Like millions of Canadians, I grew up watching this show every Saturday night, and as a player in the NHL it’s always special playing on Hockey Night in Canada.

"To actually be part of the studio show is a whole new thrill and a challenge I’m really looking forward to.”

A London, Ont., native, Kadri was the Maple Leafs’ first-round pick (seventh overall) in the 2009 NHL draft. He recently completed his second full season with the club, in which he tallied a career-high 50 points (20 goals, 30 assists) in 78 games, making him the third-highest scorer on the team.

Kadri is of Lebanese descent and is the first Muslim player drafted by the Maple Leafs and takes great pride in his cultural heritage.

Kadri’s appearance on Hockey Night comes during the second half of Saturday’s Stanley Cup playoff doubleheader that begins at 3 p.m. ET with Game 2 of the Blackhawks-Blues series.

Every game broadcast on CBC is also available live online at CBCSports.ca.