Have a swan in our pond. It tries to attack me when I feed it, when I refill the bird feeders at the back, when I try to cut the grass around the pond or in the back yard, when I simply walk around the back yard, ok, it pretty much tries to attack me when ever it sees me. I hate that angry (frank)er!

Swans are vicious, territorial bastards. And tough enough they can chase off coyotes.

I find a plastic snow shovel to push him away works best. It's wide enough he can't rush past it and it isn't hard enough to hurt him much. If he really pisses me off I push him right into the pond, where he usually just swims around angrily looking at me.
- Thecakeisalie

might as well have a badger in your back yard.

Karlsson for Nylander, Gardiner and 2019 1st round pick.

Karlsson easily fits under the cap for 2018/2019 season.

Here's how he fits the next year.

2019/2020 - Salary Cap Ceiling - 82.46M (Assuming cap goes up 2.96M)

The salary cap this year is 79.5 million, up from 75 million in 2018, 73 million in 2017, 71.4 million in 2016, 69 million in 2015, 64.3 million in 2014. On average, the cap rises 2.96 million a year over the past 5 years. The lowest it has risen in the past 5 years is 1.6 million. The most it has risen is 4.5 million.

Marleau (6.5M) / Tavares (11M) / Marner (7.5M)
Hyman (2.25M) / Matthews (9.5M) / Kapanen (2.5M)
Johnsson (2.5M) / Kadri (4.5M) / Brown (2.1M)
UFA/ELC (750K) / UFA/ELC (750K) / UFA/ELC (750K)

Kessel: 1.2M (How (frank)ing stupid was that to retain salary?)

Rielly (5M) / Karlsson (10.5M)
Dermott (860K) / Zaitsev (4.5M)
UFA/ELC (1M) / UFA/ELC (1M)

Andersen (5M)
UFA (1M)

Total: 80.66M

While McDavid will be used by some as the benchmark to what Matthews and Marner get, Kucherov is a better comparable. He scored 80 and then 100 points as a 24 and 25 year old and led the league in scoring for most the year. McDavid won serious hardware that Matthews and Marner simply can't compare to. Tavares had half a dozen teams making him offers to negotiate with. Matthews and Marner won't have that opportunity until they become UFAs. And no team is going to pay four 1st round picks for either in the form of an offer sheet. As RFAs, they can get big pay days but not UFA paydays. That's why they should make less than Tavares. But, if Matthews must get 11M, there's exactly 1.5M still available to give to him so it still works.

Also assumed Kapanen and Johnsson get the same kind of money Brown and Hyman got because that's the likely type of players they can / will be with top-six minutes, given their age and skill set. If they score 20 goals, it's fair to give them what Brown got. If they want more, they can get traded and replaced.

If Marleau retires (which his contract is built for him to do on July 2nd, 2019, after he gets his 3 million dollar bonus and promptly traded to Arizona) it opens 6.5 more in cap space and solves every cap related problem very easily in one shot. Horton is on LTIR, obviously. Even if Marleau doesn't retire, he can fit but obviously the 6.5 million would be better spent on younger, cheaper players. Either way, it still works under the cap.

If the cap, for some incredible reason stays the same and doesn't rise (hasn't happened once yet) trade one of Johnsson, Brown or Hyman to clear cap space. If necessary, trade Zaitsev or Carrick to clear cap space. Replace with cheap UFA / ELC. Zaitsev is obviously the best candidate to be traded out of all the names listed, especially if Ozy can replace him as the Russian RHD.

Give Karlsson an 8 year deal with half of it in signing bonuses and upfront money. Make it lockout guaranteed. He's not as good as Doughty, that's why he gets a touch less but if it's absolutely necessary, making it 11M still fits.

Karlsson fits. Proven. This is why Prindham is the AGM, right?

Karlsson for Nylander, Gardiner and 2019 1st round pick.

Karlsson easily fits under the cap for 2018/2019 season.

Here's how he fits the next year.

2019/2020 - Salary Cap Ceiling - 82.46M (Assuming cap goes up 2.96M)

The salary cap this year is 79.5 million, up from 75 million in 2018, 73 million in 2017, 71.4 million in 2016, 69 million in 2015, 64.3 million in 2014. On average, the cap rises 2.96 million a year over the past 5 years. The lowest it has risen in the past 5 years is 1.6 million. The most it has risen is 4.5 million.

Marleau (6.5M) / Tavares (11M) / Marner (7.5M)
Hyman (2.25M) / Matthews (9.5M) / Kapanen (2.5M)
Johnsson (2.5M) / Kadri (4.5M) / Brown (2.1M)
UFA/ELC (750K) / UFA/ELC (750K) / UFA/ELC (750K)

Kessel: 1.2M (How (frank)ing stupid was that to retain salary?)

Rielly (5M) / Karlsson (10.5M)
Dermott (860K) / Zaitsev (4.5M)
UFA/ELC (1M) / UFA/ELC (1M)

Andersen (5M)
UFA (1M)

Total: 80.66M

While McDavid will be used by some as the benchmark to what Matthews and Marner get, Kucherov is a better comparable. He scored 80 and then 100 points as a 24 and 25 year old and led the league in scoring for most the year. McDavid won serious hardware that Matthews and Marner simply can't compare to. Tavares had half a dozen teams making him offers to negotiate with. Matthews and Marner won't have that opportunity until they become UFAs. And no team is going to pay four 1st round picks for either in the form of an offer sheet. As RFAs, they can get big pay days but not UFA paydays. That's why they should make less than Tavares. But, if Matthews must get 11M, there's exactly 1.5M still available to give to him so it still works.

Also assumed Kapanen and Johnsson get the same kind of money Brown and Hyman got because that's the likely type of players they can / will be with top-six minutes, given their age and skill set. If they score 20 goals, it's fair to give them what Brown got. If they want more, they can get traded and replaced.

If Marleau retires (which his contract is built for him to do on July 2nd, 2019, after he gets his 3 million dollar bonus) it opens 6.5 more in cap space and solves every cap related problem very easily in one shot. Horton is on LTIR, obviously. Even if Marleau doesn't retire, he can fit but obviously the 6.5 million would be better spent on younger, cheaper players. Either way, it still works under the cap.

If the cap, for some incredible reason stays the same and doesn't rise (hasn't happened once yet) trade one of Johnsson, Brown or Hyman to clear cap space. If necessary, trade Zaitsev or Carrick to clear cap space. Replace with cheap UFA / ELC. Zaitsev is obviously the best candidate to be traded out of all the names listed, especially if Ozy can replace him as the Russian RHD.

Give Karlsson an 8 year deal with half of it in signing bonuses and upfront money. Make it lockout guaranteed. He's not as good as Doughty, that's why he gets a touch less but if it's absolutely necessary, making it 11M still fits.

Karlsson fits. Proven. This is why Prindham is the AGM, right?
- Unholy_Goalie

Karlsson won't sign in Foronto.

Something something something taxes.

Something something something left alone at restaurants.

Something something something not contenders.

Something something something Tampa.

Karlsson won't sign in Foronto.

Something something something taxes.

Something something something left alone at restaurants.

Something something something not contenders.

Something something something Tampa.
- Atomic Wedgie

Something something something why you posting at 4 AM.

Something something something Salming and Sundin pajamas.

Something something something he'll be a God in Toronto.

Something something something greatest place to win.

If Marleau retires (which his contract is built for him to do on July 2nd, 2019, after he gets his 3 million dollar bonus) it opens 6.5 more in cap space and solves every cap related problem very easily in one shot. Horton is on LTIR, obviously. Even if Marleau doesn't retire, he can fit but obviously the 6.5 million would be better spent on younger, cheaper players. Either way, it still works under the cap.

- Unholy_Goalie

If Marleau retires, the cap hit remains. It is a 35+ contract.

Until we trade him to Arizona, of course.

If Marleau retires, the cap hit remains. It is a 35+ contract.

Until we trade him to Arizona, of course.
- Atomic Wedgie

Which is exactly what happens in that case, July 2nd, 2019.

Something something something why you posting at 4 AM.

Something something something Salming and Sundin pajamas.

Something something something he'll be a God in Toronto.

Something something something greatest place to win.
- Unholy_Goalie

Something something something 10:25 am in Paris.

Something something something damn kids slept in.

Something something something what's your excuse?

Something something something Leafs are not contenders, remember?

Something something something 10:25 am in Paris.

Something something something damn kids slept in.

Something something something what's your excuse?

Something something something Leafs are not contenders, remember?
- Atomic Wedgie

Something something something what's any of that have to do with the price of tea in China?

Karlsson for Nylander, Gardiner and 2019 1st round pick.

Karlsson easily fits under the cap for 2018/2019 season.

Here's how he fits the next year.

2019/2020 - Salary Cap Ceiling - 82.46M (Assuming cap goes up 2.96M)

The salary cap this year is 79.5 million, up from 75 million in 2018, 73 million in 2017, 71.4 million in 2016, 69 million in 2015, 64.3 million in 2014. On average, the cap rises 2.96 million a year over the past 5 years. The lowest it has risen in the past 5 years is 1.6 million. The most it has risen is 4.5 million.

Marleau (6.5M) / Tavares (11M) / Marner (7.5M)
Hyman (2.25M) / Matthews (9.5M) / Kapanen (2.5M)
Johnsson (2.5M) / Kadri (4.5M) / Brown (2.1M)
UFA/ELC (750K) / UFA/ELC (750K) / UFA/ELC (750K)

Kessel: 1.2M (How (frank)ing stupid was that to retain salary?)

Rielly (5M) / Karlsson (10.5M)
Dermott (860K) / Zaitsev (4.5M)
UFA/ELC (1M) / UFA/ELC (1M)

Andersen (5M)
UFA (1M)

Total: 80.66M

While McDavid will be used by some as the benchmark to what Matthews and Marner get, Kucherov is a better comparable. He scored 80 and then 100 points as a 24 and 25 year old and led the league in scoring for most the year. McDavid won serious hardware that Matthews and Marner simply can't compare to. Tavares had half a dozen teams making him offers to negotiate with. Matthews and Marner won't have that opportunity until they become UFAs. And no team is going to pay four 1st round picks for either in the form of an offer sheet. As RFAs, they can get big pay days but not UFA paydays. That's why they should make less than Tavares. But, if Matthews must get 11M, there's exactly 1.5M still available to give to him so it still works.

Also assumed Kapanen and Johnsson get the same kind of money Brown and Hyman got because that's the likely type of players they can / will be with top-six minutes, given their age and skill set. If they score 20 goals, it's fair to give them what Brown got. If they want more, they can get traded and replaced.

If Marleau retires (which his contract is built for him to do on July 2nd, 2019, after he gets his 3 million dollar bonus and promptly traded to Arizona) it opens 6.5 more in cap space and solves every cap related problem very easily in one shot. Horton is on LTIR, obviously. Even if Marleau doesn't retire, he can fit but obviously the 6.5 million would be better spent on younger, cheaper players. Either way, it still works under the cap.

If the cap, for some incredible reason stays the same and doesn't rise (hasn't happened once yet) trade one of Johnsson, Brown or Hyman to clear cap space. If necessary, trade Zaitsev or Carrick to clear cap space. Replace with cheap UFA / ELC. Zaitsev is obviously the best candidate to be traded out of all the names listed, especially if Ozy can replace him as the Russian RHD.

Give Karlsson an 8 year deal with half of it in signing bonuses and upfront money. Make it lockout guaranteed. He's not as good as Doughty, that's why he gets a touch less but if it's absolutely necessary, making it 11M still fits.

Karlsson fits. Proven. This is why Prindham is the AGM, right?
- Unholy_Goalie

Nope. Don’t need him and can’t afford him. Pass.

PASS

Have a swan in our pond. It tries to attack me when I feed it, when I refill the bird feeders at the back, when I try to cut the grass around the pond or in the back yard, when I simply walk around the back yard, ok, it pretty much tries to attack me when ever it sees me. I hate that angry (frank)er!

Swans are vicious, territorial bastards. And tough enough they can chase off coyotes.

I find a plastic snow shovel to push him away works best. It's wide enough he can't rush past it and it isn't hard enough to hurt him much. If he really pisses me off I push him right into the pond, where he usually just swims around angrily looking at me.
- Thecakeisalie

Ha ha that is a funny image of your vendetta with the swan. They are big and truculent birds for sure!

Something something something what's any of that have to do with the price of tea in China?
- Unholy_Goalie

*gets bent over*

Yeah but so what? Who cares about all that stuff that I brought up.

Karlsson for Nylander, Gardiner and 2019 1st round pick.

Karlsson easily fits under the cap for 2018/2019 season.

Here's how he fits the next year.

2019/2020 - Salary Cap Ceiling - 82.46M (Assuming cap goes up 2.96M)

The salary cap this year is 79.5 million, up from 75 million in 2018, 73 million in 2017, 71.4 million in 2016, 69 million in 2015, 64.3 million in 2014. On average, the cap rises 2.96 million a year over the past 5 years. The lowest it has risen in the past 5 years is 1.6 million. The most it has risen is 4.5 million.

Marleau (6.5M) / Tavares (11M) / Marner (7.5M)
Hyman (2.25M) / Matthews (9.5M) / Kapanen (2.5M)
Johnsson (2.5M) / Kadri (4.5M) / Brown (2.1M)
UFA/ELC (750K) / UFA/ELC (750K) / UFA/ELC (750K)

Kessel: 1.2M (How (frank)ing stupid was that to retain salary?)

Rielly (5M) / Karlsson (10.5M)
Dermott (860K) / Zaitsev (4.5M)
UFA/ELC (1M) / UFA/ELC (1M)

Andersen (5M)
UFA (1M)

Total: 80.66M

While McDavid will be used by some as the benchmark to what Matthews and Marner get, Kucherov is a better comparable. He scored 80 and then 100 points as a 24 and 25 year old and led the league in scoring for most the year. McDavid won serious hardware that Matthews and Marner simply can't compare to. Tavares had half a dozen teams making him offers to negotiate with. Matthews and Marner won't have that opportunity until they become UFAs. And no team is going to pay four 1st round picks for either in the form of an offer sheet. As RFAs, they can get big pay days but not UFA paydays. That's why they should make less than Tavares. But, if Matthews must get 11M, there's exactly 1.5M still available to give to him so it still works.

Also assumed Kapanen and Johnsson get the same kind of money Brown and Hyman got because that's the likely type of players they can / will be with top-six minutes, given their age and skill set. If they score 20 goals, it's fair to give them what Brown got. If they want more, they can get traded and replaced.

If Marleau retires (which his contract is built for him to do on July 2nd, 2019, after he gets his 3 million dollar bonus and promptly traded to Arizona) it opens 6.5 more in cap space and solves every cap related problem very easily in one shot. Horton is on LTIR, obviously. Even if Marleau doesn't retire, he can fit but obviously the 6.5 million would be better spent on younger, cheaper players. Either way, it still works under the cap.

If the cap, for some incredible reason stays the same and doesn't rise (hasn't happened once yet) trade one of Johnsson, Brown or Hyman to clear cap space. If necessary, trade Zaitsev or Carrick to clear cap space. Replace with cheap UFA / ELC. Zaitsev is obviously the best candidate to be traded out of all the names listed, especially if Ozy can replace him as the Russian RHD.

Give Karlsson an 8 year deal with half of it in signing bonuses and upfront money. Make it lockout guaranteed. He's not as good as Doughty, that's why he gets a touch less but if it's absolutely necessary, making it 11M still fits.

Karlsson fits. Proven. This is why Prindham is the AGM, right?
- Unholy_Goalie

Didn't karlsson say he wouldn't take less than he is worth? No discounts.

Didn't doughty just sign for 11mil?


Why would karlsson sign for a discount after he said he wouldnt? Especially with a team he has no connection with.

No player had ever worn #91 for the Leafs before John Tavares.

No player has ever worn #65 for the Leafs either...yet.

Another great reason to get Karlsson.
- Unholy_Goalie

OH MY GOD.

No Leaf ever wore 87 or 69.

WE'RE GETTING CROSBY AND UGGY'S MOM TOO!

Karlsson for Nylander, Gardiner and 2019 1st round pick.

Karlsson easily fits under the cap for 2018/2019 season.

Here's how he fits the next year.

2019/2020 - Salary Cap Ceiling - 82.46M (Assuming cap goes up 2.96M)

The salary cap this year is 79.5 million, up from 75 million in 2018, 73 million in 2017, 71.4 million in 2016, 69 million in 2015, 64.3 million in 2014. On average, the cap rises 2.96 million a year over the past 5 years. The lowest it has risen in the past 5 years is 1.6 million. The most it has risen is 4.5 million.

Marleau (6.5M) / Tavares (11M) / Marner (7.5M)
Hyman (2.25M) / Matthews (9.5M) / Kapanen (2.5M)
Johnsson (2.5M) / Kadri (4.5M) / Brown (2.1M)
UFA/ELC (750K) / UFA/ELC (750K) / UFA/ELC (750K)

Kessel: 1.2M (How (frank)ing stupid was that to retain salary?)

Rielly (5M) / Karlsson (10.5M)
Dermott (860K) / Zaitsev (4.5M)
UFA/ELC (1M) / UFA/ELC (1M)

Andersen (5M)
UFA (1M)

Total: 80.66M

While McDavid will be used by some as the benchmark to what Matthews and Marner get, Kucherov is a better comparable. He scored 80 and then 100 points as a 24 and 25 year old and led the league in scoring for most the year. McDavid won serious hardware that Matthews and Marner simply can't compare to. Tavares had half a dozen teams making him offers to negotiate with. Matthews and Marner won't have that opportunity until they become UFAs. And no team is going to pay four 1st round picks for either in the form of an offer sheet. As RFAs, they can get big pay days but not UFA paydays. That's why they should make less than Tavares. But, if Matthews must get 11M, there's exactly 1.5M still available to give to him so it still works.

Also assumed Kapanen and Johnsson get the same kind of money Brown and Hyman got because that's the likely type of players they can / will be with top-six minutes, given their age and skill set. If they score 20 goals, it's fair to give them what Brown got. If they want more, they can get traded and replaced.

If Marleau retires (which his contract is built for him to do on July 2nd, 2019, after he gets his 3 million dollar bonus and promptly traded to Arizona) it opens 6.5 more in cap space and solves every cap related problem very easily in one shot. Horton is on LTIR, obviously. Even if Marleau doesn't retire, he can fit but obviously the 6.5 million would be better spent on younger, cheaper players. Either way, it still works under the cap.

If the cap, for some incredible reason stays the same and doesn't rise (hasn't happened once yet) trade one of Johnsson, Brown or Hyman to clear cap space. If necessary, trade Zaitsev or Carrick to clear cap space. Replace with cheap UFA / ELC. Zaitsev is obviously the best candidate to be traded out of all the names listed, especially if Ozy can replace him as the Russian RHD.

Give Karlsson an 8 year deal with half of it in signing bonuses and upfront money. Make it lockout guaranteed. He's not as good as Doughty, that's why he gets a touch less but if it's absolutely necessary, making it 11M still fits.

Karlsson fits. Proven. This is why Prindham is the AGM, right?
- Unholy_Goalie

Karlsson for Nylander, Gardiner and 2019 1st round pick.

Karlsson easily fits under the cap for 2018/2019 season.

Here's how he fits the next year.

2019/2020 - Salary Cap Ceiling - 82.46M (Assuming cap goes up 2.96M)

The salary cap this year is 79.5 million, up from 75 million in 2018, 73 million in 2017, 71.4 million in 2016, 69 million in 2015, 64.3 million in 2014. On average, the cap rises 2.96 million a year over the past 5 years. The lowest it has risen in the past 5 years is 1.6 million. The most it has risen is 4.5 million.

Marleau (6.5M) / Tavares (11M) / Marner (7.5M)
Hyman (2.25M) / Matthews (9.5M) / Kapanen (2.5M)
Johnsson (2.5M) / Kadri (4.5M) / Brown (2.1M)
UFA/ELC (750K) / UFA/ELC (750K) / UFA/ELC (750K)

Kessel: 1.2M (How (frank)ing stupid was that to retain salary?)

Rielly (5M) / Karlsson (10.5M)
Dermott (860K) / Zaitsev (4.5M)
UFA/ELC (1M) / UFA/ELC (1M)

Andersen (5M)
UFA (1M)

Total: 80.66M

While McDavid will be used by some as the benchmark to what Matthews and Marner get, Kucherov is a better comparable. He scored 80 and then 100 points as a 24 and 25 year old and led the league in scoring for most the year. McDavid won serious hardware that Matthews and Marner simply can't compare to. Tavares had half a dozen teams making him offers to negotiate with. Matthews and Marner won't have that opportunity until they become UFAs. And no team is going to pay four 1st round picks for either in the form of an offer sheet. As RFAs, they can get big pay days but not UFA paydays. That's why they should make less than Tavares. But, if Matthews must get 11M, there's exactly 1.5M still available to give to him so it still works.

Also assumed Kapanen and Johnsson get the same kind of money Brown and Hyman got because that's the likely type of players they can / will be with top-six minutes, given their age and skill set. If they score 20 goals, it's fair to give them what Brown got. If they want more, they can get traded and replaced.

If Marleau retires (which his contract is built for him to do on July 2nd, 2019, after he gets his 3 million dollar bonus and promptly traded to Arizona) it opens 6.5 more in cap space and solves every cap related problem very easily in one shot. Horton is on LTIR, obviously. Even if Marleau doesn't retire, he can fit but obviously the 6.5 million would be better spent on younger, cheaper players. Either way, it still works under the cap.

If the cap, for some incredible reason stays the same and doesn't rise (hasn't happened once yet) trade one of Johnsson, Brown or Hyman to clear cap space. If necessary, trade Zaitsev or Carrick to clear cap space. Replace with cheap UFA / ELC. Zaitsev is obviously the best candidate to be traded out of all the names listed, especially if Ozy can replace him as the Russian RHD.

Give Karlsson an 8 year deal with half of it in signing bonuses and upfront money. Make it lockout guaranteed. He's not as good as Doughty, that's why he gets a touch less but if it's absolutely necessary, making it 11M still fits.

Karlsson fits. Proven. This is why Prindham is the AGM, right?
- Unholy_Goalie

I would mabe give up nyander straight up and i would maybe give up gardiner and a 1st. But theres no effng way id give up nylander(61pts),gardiner(52pts) and a 1st for Karlsson(62pts)..... 61+52 does not equal 62. Karlsson would have to be a consistent 100 point player before I'd even consider it.

- .OHOH.

BUT he's so good offensively. Y'know, the thing were already stacked with and don't need more help with.

I love how over the past however many seasons UG has preached how bad defensively we are, and must fix that. And lately all he's been doing is ranting and raving about how bad we need Karlsson who doesn't fix that problem whatsoever.

Something something something 10:25 am in Paris.

Something something something damn kids slept in.

Something something something what's your excuse?

Something something something Leafs are not contenders, remember?
- Atomic Wedgie

Gardiner has better advanced stats than OEL, and OEL is considered to be an elite defenseman but Gardiner for some reason is garbage.

Gardiner has better advanced stats than OEL, and OEL is considered to be an elite defenseman but Gardiner for some reason is garbage.
- LeafGuy89

Because he's a leaf. Too many dumb leaf fans that don't have a clue and think that he sucks and should be traded for a 7th rounder and all the leaf haters.

He's on TV more often so more people see him more often. People see the bad giveaway and focus on that and claim that is defensive, when giveaways have nothing to do with playing defense. People have it set in their mind that guys like polak who are called stay at home dman are good defensively and don't make mistakes simply because they don't make plays, so they can't point to them giving it away as evidence. But polak is brutal defensively, he makes more defensive mistakes than gardiner but because it's not glaring giveaway people don't have anything to point to.

Something something something 10:25 am in Paris.

Something something something damn kids slept in.

Something something something what's your excuse?

Something something something Leafs are not contenders, remember?
- Atomic Wedgie

Wow. That was some serious trans-Atlantic owning you laid down there. Probably should have just rented instead.

Gardiner has better advanced stats than OEL, and OEL is considered to be an elite defenseman but Gardiner for some reason is garbage.
- LeafGuy89

Somebody has been reading PPP. You also need to take into consideration who they are lining up against and what zone starts they get. That's pretty big for advanced stats.

The thing that will suck the most is when Gardiner walks as a UFA because we need to use our cap more wisely. Of course, there are teams who would love to add Gardiner, but we also need them to have the pieces we want in return. Rasmus Anderson would be nice, but Calgary doesn't need a ld with Giordano, Brodie and hanifin. Carolina has McKeown but again doesn't need Gardiner. Only way to get what we want is to have a 3 way deal, where the 3rd team is acquiring Gardiner, we get a solid defensive prospect +, and Carolina or Calgary gets a forward prospect.

Because he's a leaf. Too many dumb leaf fans that don't have a clue and think that he sucks and should be traded for a 7th rounder and all the leaf haters.

He's on TV more often so more people see him more often. People see the bad giveaway and focus on that and claim that is defensive, when giveaways have nothing to do with playing defense. People have it set in their mind that guys like polak who are called stay at home dman are good defensively and don't make mistakes simply because they don't make plays, so they can't point to them giving it away as evidence. But polak is brutal defensively, he makes more defensive mistakes than gardiner but because it's not glaring giveaway people don't have anything to point to.
- burn

Gardiner is a very good skater on a team that is loaded for bear this year. The question is, what is he worth? He will command more than $5 mil a year being a d-man that scored 52 points last year. How far should the Leafs go in terms of $ and term. It will hard to trade him unless there is a significant d-man coming back, but re-signing will be an issue. There are warts - at 28 years old, he is what he is - not a likely scenerio that he miraculously becomes flawless in his own zone. My observation is that he seems to panick when he gets hit in his own zone. His decisions and risk taking are what makes that long term, high dollar contract that he will probably seek a very tough call. If the Leafs sign him now, the contract could be reasonable, if he has a great offensive season, say 60+ points - the price goes up - alot.

Uggie has to waive the white flag to a guy in France. Ouch

Uggie has to waive the white flag to a guy in France. Ouch
- RickJames77

the whole world waived the white flag to France a few days ago so it's not surprising.