Mike Babcock is coming around on Nazem Kadri.

The Toronto Maple Leafs head coach had nothing but praise for his young forward after Kadri scored the overtime winner to beat the Anaheim Ducks, capping off a four-point night Thursday.

Babcock especially appreciated Kadri's efforts against Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf.

"I thought he was real good (against him)," Babcock said postgame, according to The Canadian Press.

"Naz is a brave guy. He's nasty to play against. He competes hard. He wants to do it right ... And he doesn't back up to anybody. I think a big part of playing against good players is being mean enough to do it and compete hard enough to do it and he does that."

Babcock, who wanted Kadri to improve facets of his game beyond offense, says the 25-year-old has taken his message to heart.

"I think he has a chance to be a real good player," Babcock said. "He's done whatever I asked and competed hard."

Kadri leads the team with 41 points in 71 games, but he's welcomed his new role as a two-way center.

"This is definitely something different," Kadri said. "But I embraced it, I took it as a challenge, and I do understand that good defense leads to good offense."

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