Possible, sure.

Canucks number one pair is a shut down pair, though. Gardiner isn't going to beat out Hamhuis defensively, and I don't see him topping out Edler's point totals, since Elder finished with 49 even after battling injuries in the second half of the season. He's be a great partner for Edler if he could play the right side.

Either way, when the trade goes down, the Canucks will find a spot for him eventually

Maybe he can take Ballard's spot after the Canucks trade him to NYI for Bailey.
- Fosco

More often than not, that's what you expect out of Edler. He had a better year last year.

And since you've talked crap about how systems and the teams they play for make such a difference, I think it's almost a given that Gardiner outscores Edler. Probably in his sleep.

So, with Edler pushed to the second line, what do you think he'll get? maybe 30 points?

More often than not, that's what you expect out of Edler. He had a better year last year.

And since you've talked crap about how systems and the teams they play for make such a difference, I think it's almost a given that Gardiner outscores Edler. Probably in his sleep.

So, with Edler pushed to the second line, what do you think he'll get? maybe 30 points?
- prock

Edler did not have a better year last year—he had a phenomenal start, and a mediocre finish, after his back issues acted up and Salo's health issues made him a useless partner. 35 games into the season, Edler was projected to get over 60 points, and was playing fantastic defence, as well.

Edler was already on the second pairing, or more like 1b. The Canucks top two pairs get very similar TOI, but Hamhuis/Bieksa get the more difficult defensive tasks.

I have never talked crap about systems, you must be mistaking me for somebody else.

Only comments I've ever made about systems and their effect on players are how the systems employed by Tippet and Hitchcock make their goaltenders look better than they actually are.

I don't think Gardiner would get considerably more points on the Canucks than he would on the Leafs. Will he one day put up more points than Edler? Possibly, but I'll wager that it won't be in the next season or two, unless Edler's back issues continue to be a problem.

Apart from 10/11, when Edler missed some time (and was projected to put up over 50 points had he played a full 82), he has improved on his point totals. There's no reason to think that won't continue.

Edler did not have a better year last year—he had a phenomenal start, and a mediocre finish, after his back issues acted up and Salo's health issues made him a useless partner. 35 games into the season, Edler was projected to get over 60 points, and was playing fantastic defence, as well.

Edler was already on the second pairing, or more like 1b. The Canucks top two pairs get very similar TOI, but Hamhuis/Bieksa get the more difficult defensive tasks.

I have never talked crap about systems, you must be mistaking me for somebody else.

Only comments I've ever made about systems and their effect on players are how the systems employed by Tippet and Hitchcock make their goaltenders look better than they actually are.

I don't think Gardiner would get considerably more points on the Canucks than he would on the Leafs. Will he one day put up more points than Edler? Possibly, but I'll wager that it won't be in the next season or two, unless Edler's back issues continue to be a problem.

Apart from 10/11, when Edler missed some time (and was projected to put up over 50 points had he played a full 82), he has improved on his point totals. There's no reason to think that won't continue.
- Fosco

Last year was his career year, and until he does it again, I wouldn't count on more than 40. Which would still be the third highest of his career.

I never said Gardiner would get "considerably" more. 5, maybe 10 points, if he pushes.

I'm sure Hamhuis, Bieksa, Edler, would transition to the 2a/2b/2c slot with little issues, if they've got a situation like that already.

Last year was his career year, and until he does it again, I wouldn't count on more than 40. Which would still be the third highest of his career.

I never said Gardiner would get "considerably" more. 5, maybe 10 points, if he pushes.
- prock

Edler is only 26, and was projected to get over 50pts the previous year, before his injury. What makes you think he's peaked?

To think Eder won't improve, after he's done so every single year is somewhat ridiculous. Again, his back issues are concerning, but if he stays healthy, all signs point to him continuing to improve, as D don't usually peak at 26.

If Edler can ever carry his play for an entire season like he played the first 35 of 11/12, he will be an absolute force.

Gardiner had a great rookie season, no reason to think he won't improve, but for you to have such blind faith that he will improve, and an equally blind faith that Edler has peaked, reeks of homerism.

Edler is only 26, and was projected to get over 50pts the previous year, before his injury. What makes you think he's peaked?

To think Eder won't improve, after he's done so every single year is somewhat ridiculous. Again, his back issues are concerning, but if he stays healthy, all signs point to him continuing to improve, as D don't usually peak at 26.

If Edler can ever carry his play for an entire season like he played the first 35 of 11/12, he will be an absolute force.

Gardiner had a great rookie season, no reason to think he won't improve, but for you to have such blind faith that he will improve, and an equally blind faith that Edler has peaked, reeks of homerism.
- Fosco

"projected to get"? So, like Phaneuf was projected to get 90 points when he had more points than games in the first 30 games of last season? Projected like that?

"projected to get"? So, like Phaneuf was projected to get 90 points when he had more points than games in the first 30 games of last season? Projected like that?
- prock

I think you're exaggerating Phaneuf's projected point totals. While I know he had a good start, I'm pretty sure he wasn't over a point per game by the 30 game mark. If I'm not mistaken, Edler, Karlsson and Campbell were battling it out for #1 in D scoring around the 30-35 game mark of 11/12.

My projected points comment was in reference to you saying above 40 points would only be the third time in his career—in 10/11 Edler had 33 points in 51 games, so while he might not have reached his PROJECTED 53 points over a full 82, to think he wouldn't have gotten at least 7, to reach 40 points, in the last 31 games of the season, is absurd.

Edler's point totals have risen every year. There's a good chance they'll continue to do so for at least a few more seasons.

I think you're exaggerating Phaneuf's projected point totals. While I know he had a good start, I'm pretty sure he wasn't over a point per game by the 30 game mark. If I'm not mistaken, Edler, Karlsson and Campbell were battling it out for #1 in D scoring around the 30-35 game mark of 11/12.

My projected points comment was in reference to you saying above 40 points would only be the third time in his career—in 10/11 Edler had 33 points in 51 games, so while he might not have reached his PROJECTED 53 points over a full 82, to think he wouldn't have gotten at least 7, to reach 40 points in the last 31 games of the season, is absurd.

Edler's point totals have risen every year. There's a good chance they'll continue to do so for at least a few more seasons.
- Fosco

No they haven't.

No they haven't.
- prock

06/07 - 22gp 3pts
07/08 - 75gp 20pts
08/09 - 80gp 37pts
09/10 - 76gp 42pts
10/11 - 51gp 33pts **only year they didn't increase, yet still increased his points per game.
11/12 - 82gp 49pts

That's an improvement in every season in points per game, and point totals, except for his injury season, where he would have had to put up 10points in 31 games to beat his previous year.

06/07 - 22gp 3pts
07/08 - 75gp 20pts
08/09 - 80gp 37pts
09/10 - 76gp 42pts
10/11 - 51gp 33pts **only year they didn't increase, yet still increased his points per game.
11/12 - 82gp 49pts

That's an improvement in every season in points per game, and point totals, except for his injury season, where he would have had to put up 10points in 31 games to beat his previous year.
- Fosco

In other words, if you use point per game average, he's already started declining?

In other words, if you use point per game average, he's already started declining?
- prock

Sure. You're really digging.

He went from 0.65 in 10/11 in 51gp, to 0.60 in 82 gp 11/12, a season where he battled injury for the 2nd half of the season.

You are a stubborn one, but at least you don't resort to pettiness and name calling like some of your Leaf brethren.

Sure. You're really digging.

He went from 0.65 in 10/11 in 51gp, to 0.60 in 82 gp 11/12, a season where he battled injury for the 2nd half of the season.

You are a stubborn one, but at least you don't resort to pettiness and name calling like some of your Leaf brethren.
- Fosco

Well, that's a decline, isn't it?

Well, that's a decline, isn't it?
- prock

Yes, it is a slight decline, but it's also based on a smaller sample size.

At a similar point in the 11/12 season, Edler actually had a higher points/game, and it declined in the second half due to a number of factors, a few of which I mentioned in an earlier post.

Of course you could be right that Edler is on a decline—anything is possible—but are you seriously telling me that, looking at his career numbers and the general increase in production almost every season, you think it's unlikely that he could improve?

As someone who has watched Edler closely in his career, I can tell you just by watching him play, he has gotten better every year in all aspects of the game.

He did have trouble sustaining that level of improvement over the full season, but his start was phenomenal. Hopefully with a younger and more physical partner he can keep it up.

Yes, it is a slight decline, but it's also based on a smaller sample size.

At a similar point in the 11/12 season, Edler actually had a higher points/game, and it declined in the second half due to a number of factors, a few of which I mentioned in an earlier post.

Of course you could be right that Edler is on a decline—anything is possible—but are you seriously telling me that, looking at his career numbers and the general increase in production almost every season, you think it's unlikely that he could improve?

As someone who has watched Edler closely in his career, I can tell you just by watching him play, he has gotten better every year in all aspects of the game.

He did have trouble sustaining that level of improvement over the full season, but his start was phenomenal. Hopefully with a younger and more physical partner he can keep it up.
- Fosco

I find it hard to think that blaming injuries this year for a decline in offense, from a year in which he couldn't even play half the year, as a credible argument.

I find it hard to think that blaming injuries this year for a decline in offense, from a year in which he couldn't even play half the year, as a credible argument.
- prock

He had documented back issues throughout the second half of the season. As well, after Salo was concussed by Marchand, Salo became almost useless as a partner.

Edler was on a torrid pace in the first half, and also playing great physically and defensively. I think it's reasonable to think there was another factor that would explain the sharp reduction in his second half production, other than your theory that he's on the decline.

He had documented back issues throughout the second half of the season. As well, after Salo was concussed by Marchand, Salo became almost useless as a partner.

Edler was on a torrid pace in the first half, and also playing great physically and defensively. I think it's reasonable to think there was another factor that would explain the sharp reduction in his second half production, other than your theory that he's on the decline.
- Fosco

And comparing that to the previous season, don't you think it would be easier to point out documented injury issues?

And comparing that to the previous season, don't you think it would be easier to point out documented injury issues?
- prock

The previous season he was injured in a collision against LA that required surgery and kept him out until the last few games of the season. He only played one or two games after the collision before he stopped to have surgery, so he wasn't really playing through an injury for a long stretch.

He re-aggrivated that same injury in 11/12, was a game-time decision for a number of games and didn't actually miss any, but played through the injury for most of the second half of the season.

Also, considering that he took the brunt of the physical duties having Salo also not at %100, it was a tough second half for Edler.

I forgot my laptop when I left for the USA. Haha. I'm back in the US after going home for a weekend at the cottage, so I grabbed it and am "back".
- Brian Huddle

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