Maple Leafs return Kadri to AHL's Marlies

TORONTO - The Maple Leafs sent rookie forward Nazem Kadri back down to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League on Wednesday.

The 20-year-old centre recorded six assists in 17 games with the Maple Leafs.

Kadri will sit out his first two games with the Marlies. He was given a two-game suspension by the AHL shortly after he was called up by the Leafs last month.

Kadri received the ban as a result of his actions in a 5-1 victory over the Adirondack Phantoms on Nov. 11. He was given slashing and unsportsmanlike conduct minors along with a game misconduct midway through the third period.

Kadri has 14 points (5-9) in 14 AHL games this season. He was selected by Toronto with the seventh overall pick in the 2009 NHL entry draft.

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  Toronto Maple Leafs' Nazem Kadri, left, gets sent to the ice by Calgary Flames' Adam Pardy during first-period NHL hockey action in Calgary, Alta. on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)