Nazem Kadri has learned his lesson.

The 24-year-old addressed his situation with reporters prior to serving the second of a two-game suspension as the Toronto Maple Leafs visit the Calgary Flames tonight.

Kadri was suspended for unspecified off-ice behaviour on Wednesday. The suspension followed the team's decision to make the young centre a healthy scratch for Monday night's game against the New York Islanders.

"It's a lesson that couldn't be more clear," Kadri told reporters of the ban. "I have no ill feelings for anyone else. I don't blame anyone else."

Kadri is expected to return to the Leafs' line-up against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday and acknowledged that the message from President Brendan Shanahan was received.

It was "a bit of a wake-up call," per Kadri. "Certain things won't be tolerated. Shanny made it clear what has to be done. Things have to change."

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Shanahan said the suspension was not due to one isolated incident, but rather a trend in Kadri's behaviour.

“If this were just a case of Nazem being 15 minutes late for a meeting one time, yes, then you could probably sweep this under the rug and handle this internally and maybe take the guys out to lunch or something like that," Shanahan said on Wednesday. 

"There’s a history here," Shanahan continued. "But there comes a point where you’ve got to grow up.”

The shaming appears to have hit its mark.

"I'm embarrassed about it," Kadri said. "It's a lesson learned. That's how I'm going to approach it. I'm a little bit humiliated."

As for his future with the club, Kadri acknowledged Friday that he foresees himself in blue and white moving forward. The Leafs enter the tilt with Calgary fifth from the NHL's cellar and 20 points removed from the final wild card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Headed for restricted free agency this off-season and potentially a raise on the $2.9 million annual average on his current deal, Kadri has been productive for the Leafs this season. He has 16 goals and 20 assists through 64 games with the club this season, one removed from a career-best 20-goal and 50-point campaign last season. 

The London, Ont.-native has also improved his two-way game this season, leading those that have spent the entire year with the team in shot-attempt percentage (Corsi). 

By all accounts, the team is primed for its first complete rebuild in decades. Kadri is one of the younger players on the roster who could potentially factor into the club's transition from their current state to the competitor that Shanahan envisions. 

"What I know is I want to be part of the [Leafs] future and they expressed the same feeling so, for that, I'm thankful," he said.