Look I'm not saying Gardiner is bad. Outside of Rielly and Kadri he is the best young player the Leafs have and his potential is as high as both of those guys. Which is why I feel he can be packaged for a superstar. You gotta give to get.
- Lipchitz

I hear ya.. RNH wouldnt be the guy id be gunning for though..

The name has nothing to do with it, yet another assumption. The guy did play 20 min a game last year in all situations. And will get he chance to do so again this year. He may not be super physical but he is fast and angles players off of the puck very well. He controls the game with his puck possession, and those deficiencies you speak of will be ironed out. He's 22. The talent is there, he just needs to play in the NHL more consistently. And it seems like he will. Also I agree with your point about RNH, yes these players are young but RNH dominated some games last year... opposing teams couldn't get out of their own end when their line was on, however the oil have many more holes than small-ish centers. I'd take that trade in a heartbeat with Rielly up and coming.
- gardinerfan

Seems like you are talking about Gardiner. He is good at keeping the puck out of his end which is great, but once we get helmed in by a hard forecheck he struggles.

i wanted them to give him away for O'Reilly
- bobbyisno1

I like O'Reilly but I wouldn't move Gardiner for that contract. Too much money for the type of player O'Rielly is.

The name has nothing to do with it, yet another assumption. The guy did play 20 min a game last year in all situations. And will get he chance to do so again this year. He may not be super physical but he is fast and angles players off of the puck very well. He controls the game with his puck possession, and those deficiencies you speak of will be ironed out. He's 22. The talent is there, he just needs to play in the NHL more consistently. And it seems like he will. Also I agree with your point about RNH, yes these players are young but RNH dominated some games last year... opposing teams couldn't get out of their own end when their line was on, however the oil have many more holes than small-ish centers. I'd take that trade in a heartbeat with Rielly up and coming.
- gardinerfan

The truth is that they don't have a single d man who's in their prime yet save Liles (that actually play). The d corp is really young, and if they can snag a good veteran for the playoffs they should.

Look I'm not saying Gardiner is bad. Outside of Rielly and Kadri he is the best young player the Leafs have and his potential is as high as both of those guys. Which is why I feel he can be packaged for a superstar. You gotta give to get.
- Lipchitz

Nobody gives away superstars. If you want a superstar, draft one.

Why would you need a guy to sit in the pressbox and wait for an injury? Illogical...
- gardinerfan

not sure, blacker is a right handed d-men... unless carlyle does not like too many left handed playing, which leaves Liles or Gunner expendable?

Nobody gives away superstars. If you want a superstar, draft one.
- Leafland

Edmonton did

Nobody gives away superstars. If you want a superstar, draft one.
- Leafland

Or fleece Anaheim for one in a trade.

I like O'Reilly but I wouldn't move Gardiner for that contract. Too much money for the type of player O'Rielly is.
- Lipchitz

Just to put this out there, he has 11 pts in 12 games. Hes not going anywhere. Stastny will be out the door first and i think stastny is playing on the 3rd line now

The truth is that they don't have a single d man who's in their prime yet save Liles (that actually play). The d corp is really young, and if they can snag a good veteran for the playoffs they should.
- aminnes

What about Phaneuf?

Or fleece Anaheim for one in a trade.
- gardinerfan

Not gonna happen with Burkie being there

Edmonton did
- faceto27

Not exactly a good example.

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle 45s

Here's a stat for tomorrow: The Panthers have earned points in 16 of their last 20 games against the Leafs, going 13-4-3 over that span.

He's 22. The talent is there, he just needs to play in the NHL more consistently. And it seems like he will.
- gardinerfan

Agreed completely. Gardiner will be a good NHLer, we aren't even disagreeing on his upside just his likeliness to reach his ceiling. IMO the most likely scenario is in his prime Gardiner is a good 3/4 on a championship calibre team. He does have the talent to exceed that projection though.

Or fleece Anaheim for one in a trade.
- gardinerfan

Haha I think we seen the last of that with Burke gone, hopefully he doesn't take them all back

What about Phaneuf?
- MapleLeafsFTW

Phaneuf is an incompetent klutz.

I like O'Reilly but I wouldn't move Gardiner for that contract. Too much money for the type of player O'Rielly is.
- Lipchitz

A 60 (Who knows he's looking great and pretty much a PPG player in this small sample) point shutdown center who wins face-offs and is only 22?

Done in a (frank)ing heartbeat

not sure, blacker is a right handed d-men... unless carlyle does not like too many left handed playing, which leaves Liles or Gunner expendable?
- Mapleleafs_91

Great point... I have always seen Gunner as expendable. Perhaps in a mix with Bozak for some veteran presence? perhaps not? Either way, an interesting move in my mind.

Not exactly a good example.
- Leafland

Boston....... Joe Thornton

I hear ya.. RNH wouldnt be the guy id be gunning for though..
- orienbrady22

Who would you target?

Phaneuf is an incompetent klutz.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Butttt a veteran incompetent clutz in his prime

If he was playing with a real center he would get 50....
- Fruitcakenipple

Like Kadri??

Not exactly a good example.
- Leafland

CBJ........ Rick Nash

FLA......... Luongo


Need more?

Great point... I have always seen Gunner as expendable. Perhaps in a mix with Bozak for some veteran presence? perhaps not? Either way, an interesting move in my mind.
- gardinerfan

Gunner has been decent though, so itll be kind of tough to let go of him. And i think Liles is listed day to day with ankle sprain so should not be out long

Nobody gives away superstars. If you want a superstar, draft one.
- Leafland

You have to tank to get a surefire superstar. No one in TO wants to see that. The only other option is to trade and the Leafs have a bevy of young prospects/picks to make a deal happen.