Imo brown is a more pure goalscorer, leivo has better hands and also play with grit, and Rychel looks like he could replace uncle Leo on the second line ,pending his defensive game? - MR.Hunter
I just want the leafs to trade JVR and Gardiner.
Unless you keep Gardiner as 4/5 D and for the PP and somehow are able to get 2 good upgrades on D (Rielly, Zaitsev + 2 guys) and fit it all under the salary cap.
After next season, I truly expect Dermott to take over Gardiner's place so if Leafs add another 1 or 2 good top 4 D-man (with defensive skills) it makes Gardiner expandable.
He plays with a lot of heart and grit but not much Finnish ,that's why I wish brown or leivo would get more of a look with Matthews and Nylander - MR.Hunter
I just want the leafs to trade JVR and Gardiner.
Unless you keep Gardiner as 4/5 D and for the PP and somehow are able to get 2 good upgrades on D (Rielly, Zaitsev + 2 guys) and fit it all under the salary cap.
After next season, I truly expect Dermott to take over Gardiner's place so if Leafs add another 1 or 2 good top 4 D-man (with defensive skills) it makes Gardiner expandable. - MaximusAurelius
Uhh, hasn't Gardiner has been their best defenseman all season? He makes mistakes once in a while, like any other Dman, but he doesn't get scored on and produces offensively. He's a +25 which is top 10 for all dmen in the league. He's great for a top 4 for the forseeable future.
Uhh, hasn't Gardiner has been their best defenseman all season? He makes mistakes once in a while, like any other Dman, but he doesn't get scored on and produces offensively. He's a +25 which is top 10 for all dmen in the league. He's great for a top 4 for the forseeable future. - 13sundin13
Gardiner sucks defensively.
Illustration of this: both Polak as well as Hunwick are more reliable in the d-zone than Gardiner.
He plays with a lot of heart and grit but not much Finnish ,that's why I wish brown or leivo would get more of a look with Matthews and Nylander - MR.Hunter
Illustration of this: both Polak as well as Hunwick are more reliable in the d-zone than Gardiner. - MaximusAurelius
Depends on how you're looking at this. I'd say Gardiner is worse with positioning and freeing up space but he is far and away the best defender at breaking out of the zone.
Depends on how you're looking at this. I'd say Gardiner is worse with positioning and freeing up space but he is far and away the best defender at breaking out of the zone. - markmark
Agree.
But if you're Gaudreau, Crosby, Ovechkin or Patrick Kane, I'm quite sure you prefer Gardiner as opposition than Polak.
Depends on how you're looking at this. I'd say Gardiner is worse with positioning and freeing up space but he is far and away the best defender at breaking out of the zone. - markmark
Gardiner is still a work in progress. No doubt he still makes some bone head plays, but he's been more reliable, more consistent and better overall.
Location: The Slovakian Jagr, QC Joined: 02.25.2007
Mar 27 @ 2:28 PM ET
Gardiner is still a work in progress. No doubt he still makes some bone head plays, but he's been more reliable, more consistent and better overall. - As_I_See_It
Man well this just got interesting... hoping Andersen isn't out for too long here cause that is a pretty big blow down a homestretch playoff push. Thinking thank god though Kapanen was recalled over more Smith cause he sucks! Also thinking Kapanen on the 4th line might work really. Boyle wins draws and he and Martin seem to retrieve and win puck battles a whole lot. Give them a guy who can finish if they can dish it to him and we might get some use out of a 4th line instead of just grinding and chewing up the clock.
Really looking forward to the future of this team, but with how hard they have tried and played, do want to see them make the playoffs this year just to know they can do it and get a taste, make them hungrier for it.
Gardiner is still a work in progress. No doubt he still makes some bone head plays, but he's been more reliable, more consistent and better overall. - As_I_See_It
How long has it been a "work in progress" with him? He is not ever going to me more than he is at this point. He is Todd Gill V2.0. He will be both good and bad, will save you one minute and kill you the next.
In the end I think he can likely be replaced and we are going to have to make moves on defence to shore it right up. That IS the weakest part of the team. If we can upgrade there then I think he is the one that is going to get moved and deemed expendable.
