Other than the selfish play near the end of the game, Kadri had a great game. I'm sure he had heard from Babcock about that.
Sitting 3rd in the division at mid season is better than any fan could have envisioned and the chemistry seems to be working with the mix of youth and (still young) veterans. Some may prefer them to finish low and grab another high pick, but I think the natural progression into a competitive bunch and a taste of success are more beneficial than picking a few spots higher in the next draft for this already great young core.
There are still holes to fill, primarily on defence which are currently masked by good coaching and goaltending. With memories of the collapse of the 2013-14 team featuring the same remaining veterans still vivid, I guess we have to keep our optimism in check until we know the goaltending will hold up and the rookies can deal with the long grind of the season.