Are you UG?
- Oilhab

Haha so if you were a Leaf fan you would want Liles over Reilly or Gardiner? Good one.

Is that a serious question?
- SameOld

Yup...
I think if Liles could get his game going a little better he'd be more of an asset to the back end than a slow footed big man.
I see Liles having the same misfortune as a lot of guys who signed long contracts in their prime (see: Grabovski) and although they don't hurt the team they don't live up to their cap hit.

Are you UG?
- Oilhab

I am apparently.

D aren't to bad Dion/Gunner, Franson/Fraser while not being the best top 4 in the league are very reliable in both ends, this will be the year Franson makes himself a fixture on the lifes blue line for the next decade replacing Dion. Gardiner is more along the lines of Letang great offence no defence needs to ply with someone like fraser or gunner who can protect him. Give Ranger 10 games to get back to speed, if he isnt up to it send him back to the A
- shill-17

Seriously? Gardiner couldn't hold his jock in any aspect of the game. Let's be real.

He plays a good stay-at-home where as Franson makes the offensive plays.

Good D/Bon D
- Blue Leaves

Fair enough on the balance side of things... just doesn't look like a top 4 guy to me...
5 or 6... for sure... but not top four.

Seriously? Gardiner couldn't hold his jock in any aspect of the game. Let's be real.
- AdamFrench

Are you UG?

Fair enough on the balance side of things... just doesn't look like a top 4 guy to me...
5 or 6... for sure... but not top four.
- mlindsay

the pairing works great together, basing his status as top four off the play of them together

Yup...
I think if Liles could get his game going a little better he'd be more of an asset to the back end than a slow footed big man.
I see Liles having the same misfortune as a lot of guys who signed long contracts in their prime (see: Grabovski) and although they don't hurt the team they don't live up to their cap hit.
- mlindsay

Well I'm gonna have to go ahead and disagree. As does our Stanley Cup & Norris trophy winning coach.

Doesn't matter cap wise, him or Reilly. Reilly was better.

Are you UG?
- Oilhab

Hahah that's all you have to say huh. Run along.

Hahah that's all you have to say huh. Run along.
- SameOld

Gardiner is a one dimensional player, and that dimension isn't NHL quality

Gardiner is a one dimensional player, and that dimension isn't NHL quality
- Oilhab

Are you being serious or is that a troll comment? If its a troll comments, I can understand that you're still upset about the Leafs sticking it to the habs on Tuesday.

If you're being serious, you're an idiot.

Well Franson has probably been our best d-man so far (neck and neck with Dion), so he's not in that convo.

I'll happily take Gardiner or Rielly over Liles.
- SameOld

It's the combo that scares me.

Would I take Gardiner or Rielly or Liles?

Definitely Gardiner. I don't know about Rielly.

But do I want Gardiner and Rielly out there together? Or even dressed at the same time?

I think I'd rather have Liles out there instead. You know what you are getting with Liles.

Rielly is going to be one giant crapshoot.

It's the combo that scares me.

Would I take Gardiner or Rielly or Liles?

Definitely Gardiner. I don't know about Rielly.

But do I want Gardiner and Rielly out there together? Or even dressed at the same time?

I think I'd rather have Liles out there instead. You know what you are getting with Liles.

Rielly is going to be one giant crapshoot.
- Atomic Wedgie

Oh I completely agree you can't have them together. Unfortunately if Fraser is out, Reilly Ranger will be the 3rd pairing. Probably won't see much ice time in the 3rd period though.

Are you being serious or is that a troll comment? If its a troll comments, I can understand that you're still upset about the Leafs sticking it to the habs on Tuesday.

If you're being serious, you're an idiot.
- SameOld

He was your 2nd worst D during that game, only better then Ranger.

Did he do something amazing during last nights game?

What are you basing this hardon for Gardiner on?

He was your 2nd worst D during that game, only better then Ranger.

Did he do something amazing during last nights game?

What are you basing this hardon for Gardiner on?
- Oilhab

So wait, let me get this straight, you think 2 games is an adequate sample size?

I had a feeling I couldn't take you seriously.

So wait, let me get this straight, you think 2 games is an adequate sample size?

I had a feeling I couldn't take you seriously.
- SameOld

How was he last year?

I don't watch every leaf game so I am asking you what you are bashing your love for him on? Do you watch every AHL game he has played in?

All i'm saying is the times I have seen him, he doesn't look ready for the NHL, and if Liles regains some defense form in the AHL I could easily see him in the lineup over Gardiner.

Meh kinda wanted to see the kid. Plus, just keep pushing Fransons minutes, guy looks awesome thus far.

How was he last year?

I don't watch every leaf game so I am asking you what you are bashing your love for him on? Do you watch every AHL game he has played in?

All i'm saying is the times I have seen him, he doesn't look ready for the NHL, and if Liles regains some defense form in the AHL I could easily see him in the lineup over Gardiner.
- Oilhab

Yeah and if Markov regains some footspeed I can see him beating out Subban for the Norris...

I did watch Gardiner in both the NHL and AHL... after his injury he was very tentative.... so not much improvement. He was very good in the playoffs last year when he got a chance to play.... He needs time to develop his positional play and hockey sense at the faster pace in the nhl. If this doesnt happen then he will be a bust

How was he last year?

I don't watch every leaf game so I am asking you what you are bashing your love for him on? Do you watch every AHL game he has played in?

All i'm saying is the times I have seen him, he doesn't look ready for the NHL, and if Liles regains some defense form in the AHL I could easily see him in the lineup over Gardiner.
- Oilhab

Gardner should only be playing with top guys. He looks okay when he's out there with Franny. They can't have these kids playing with Ranger right now. He needs to worry about finding his gm again, not covering for young guys.

Yeah and if Markov regains some footspeed I can see him beating out Subban for the Norris...

I did watch Gardiner in both the NHL and AHL... after his injury he was very tentative.... so not much improvement. He was very good in the playoffs last year when he got a chance to play.... He needs time to develop his positional play and hockey sense at the faster pace in the nhl. If this doesnt happen then he will be a bust
- jribout

Markov is done, You never regain that speed. And it is not that straight away speed that he is missing, it is laterial speed, that pivoting and initial Burst speed.
Never come back no matter how hard you train

How was he last year?

I don't watch every leaf game so I am asking you what you are bashing your love for him on? Do you watch every AHL game he has played in?

All i'm saying is the times I have seen him, he doesn't look ready for the NHL, and if Liles regains some defense form in the AHL I could easily see him in the lineup over Gardiner.
- Oilhab

He's a wild card. A riverboat gambler. He's playing rover out there.

When he's on, he's on. When he's off, Oh Lordie.

But he's done with the AHL - he won't benefit from any more time there.

He is the future.

Liles? Not so much.

He's a wild card. A riverboat gambler. He's playing rover out there.

When he's on, he's on. When he's off, Oh Lordie.

But he's done with the AHL - he won't benefit from any more time there.

He is the future.

Liles? Not so much.
- Atomic Wedgie

Yup. He'll be fine. He still super young especially for a d. But he has skills you can't teach at this level, I can wait while he finds his positional game and decisions improve.

http://espn.go.com/nhl/st...goalie-pads-espn-magazine
oh ESPN

Meh kinda wanted to see the kid. Plus, just keep pushing Fransons minutes, guy looks awesome thus far.
- aminnes

NOPE, he's a #5 Dman!! At least...that's what half of you insisted all summer

Franson-haters must convert and admit they were wrong!

NOPE, he's a #5 Dman!! At least...that's what half of you insisted all summer

Franson-haters must convert and admit they were wrong!
- BestRapperAlive

Because of two games? A lot of people weren't hating (some were) just explaining that Franson played against 3rd and 4th liners last year. I've been impressed so far but to suggest he could step into Phaneufs spot is absolutely crazy. He's still pretty slow and would get eaten alive by top lines.