I love the way Gardiner stepped up in the playoffs, and he's had the best stats on the back end the last two years.. you don't win with a bunch of different versions of the guy though. He moves the puck well, and isn't as bad defensively as most think he is, but he's a soft defender and not who you want laying down to block shots when the other team has the goalie pulled. That's what the team is missing; a brute whose tough to play against. It can't just be Polak

I think that our biggest need is a legit top 4 defender, that fits in the age group of the core. Preferably a right handed defender, but at what cost? Winnipeg may be shopping one, but not sure which one to target. If they can get that one piece, you can always take on two older defenders, for 5 and 6. If they want a salary dump of Bieksa, in a deal for Manson, he'd slot in where Polak used to be....if they don't resign him.
- PrinceLH

Would need to waive NTC

Advanced stats will tell you that he's effective most of the time.

But they can't bring out the critical mistakes he makes once/twice during the game.

For what it's worth, Gardiner had, by far, his best season this year. If he can maintain that level of play or improve on it, he'll remain a very good player to have for the Leafs.

Now is this a guanrantee? Probably not. We'll see how things go for him next year.
- Scabeh

Next season will be yyyuuugggee for him, but his performance in the playoffs this year was really good..
I think he is a keeper. I can live with the odd mistake, if his continues to play like he did in the 6 games against Washington

Next season will be yyyuuugggee for him, but his performance in the playoffs this year was really good..
I think he is a keeper. I can live with the odd mistake, if his continues to play like he did in the 6 games against Washington
- PatC80

Agreed.

Would need to waive NTC
- Matthews_Auston

Bieksa would probably get more playing time in Toronto. Might be a better fit unless he really wants a cup.

Next season will be yyyuuugggee for him, but his performance in the playoffs this year was really good..
I think he is a keeper. I can live with the odd mistake, if his continues to play like he did in the 6 games against Washington
- PatC80

nice limited sample size vs the 240 regular season games he played over the last 3 seasons with the leafs, during which, he proved to be a #3 / #4 D-man with good offensive skills (apart from shooting the puck into opponent's shinpads 70% of the time while having puck on possession around blueline), but very very limited defensive awareness.

nice limited sample size vs the 240 regular season games he played over the last 3 seasons with the leafs, during which, he proved to be a #3 / #4 D-man with good offensive skills (apart from shooting the puck into opponent's shinpads 70% of the time while having puck on possession around blueline), but very very limited defensive awareness.
- MaximusAurelius

you need to move on from this. Gardiner is here to stay and is very good.

you need to move on from this. Gardiner is here to stay and is very good.
- senstroll

Maybe we can package him with Nylander and get a coveted 3-4 defender.

fair enough,

I'll go one better, he had the best +/- on the team


To be fair though, his advanced stat numbers were good, just to many boneheaded plays
- PatC80

I don't like to look at stats from guys who are used differently that's all I meant.

Gard's stats started to look more like Rielly and Z's when he played on the top pair at the end of the year.

But I've done a 180 on Gardiner over the last 5 yrs...at 1 time I would have traded him for an old boot.

Jays are fun to watch again
- senstroll

The call ups and fill ins have been doing well.

Smoak, Pillar have also improved at the plate. Now if only we could our players playing like our top players, this team will be back in contention.

you need to move on from this. Gardiner is here to stay and is good.
- senstroll

fixed

nice limited sample size vs the 240 regular season games he played over the last 3 seasons with the leafs, during which, he proved to be a #3 / #4 D-man with good offensive skills (apart from shooting the puck into opponent's shinpads 70% of the time while having puck on possession around blueline), but very very limited defensive awareness.
- MaximusAurelius

try to look forward, not in the past..

Bieksa would probably get more playing time in Toronto. Might be a better fit unless he really wants a cup.
- TheMussel

bieksa is looking old and slow ... from some limited watching of the ducks i've seen.

The call ups and fill ins have been doing well.

Smoak, Pillar have also improved at the plate. Now if only we could our players playing like our top players, this team will be back in contention.
- Fakepartofme

Pillar has been doing it all over the last stretch. Good on him.

Maybe we can package him with Nylander and get a coveted 3-4 defender.
- markmark

Damn dude that's below the belt

I love the way Gardiner stepped up in the playoffs, and he's had the best stats on the back end the last two years.. you don't win with a bunch of different versions of the guy though. He moves the puck well, and isn't as bad defensively as most think he is, but he's a soft defender and not who you want laying down to block shots when the other team has the goalie pulled. That's what the team is missing; a brute whose tough to play against. It can't just be Polak
- leafsfann

then manson is the guy we should target to round out the defense.

you need to move on from this. Gardiner is here to stay and is very good.
- senstroll

Well. He played very well over 6 playoff games and did improve his play near the end of the season, but hasnt been consistently good enough over a long enough stretch to be Labelled "very good" just yet imo.
He will be around for a few years and had his best year for sure.

Assuming this is sarcasm, which begs the question, what do YOU watch to get actual reliable and trustworthy news.
- Aetherial

Trump's twitter feed

I wonder what the price would be for Tyson Barrie out in Colorado? They may/should have a fire sale..

Would Barrie be expensive?
- PatC80

Not sure why he would be expensive, highest minus player in the league at minus 34 and he makes $5.5 million a year for 3 more years. Hard to justify that salary for a one dimensional player. Has some talent, but risky move taking a player off one of the worst teams in hockey that is overpaid. Prefer Manson, by a lot.

what time is the Canada game?

Not sure why he would be expensive, highest minus player in the league at minus 34 and he makes $5.5 million a year for 3 more years. Hard to justify that salary for a one dimensional player. Has some talent, but risky move taking a player off one of the worst teams in hockey that is overpaid. Prefer Manson, by a lot.
- winsix

As would I, but what if Manson is not available?

what time is the Canada game?
- the_eye

20 min ago

The call ups and fill ins have been doing well.

Smoak, Pillar have also improved at the plate. Now if only we could our players playing like our top players, this team will be back in contention.
- Fakepartofme

they have pretty much done that now. 3 games out of WC

what time is the Canada game?
- the_eye

now

then manson is the guy we should target to round out the defense.
- Tumbleweed

Agree, the Ducks represent one of the most intriguing situations leading up to the expansion draft. With the talent on D that they have and knowing that Bieksa has a NTC, it seems likely they have to protect 4 d-men. But with their forward situation, they would have probably expose Silfverberg or Rakell. Can't see any way that there are no trades here. They will likely want a good player that is not elligible to be scooped by Vegas, or make some sort of trade with Vegas before the draft.