That's because he can't move his feet and think about what he's going to do with the puck at the same time...
- TrashPanda

damn, I used to call him the Scarecrow..now I remember why.

20 years ago. The same was said about Larry Murphy. He was blamed for everything that happened behind the Leaf blueline, then once traded to the Wings, promptly went on two Cup runs and was a main cog on the Wing Blueline.

Not defending Gardiner, he has a lot of defensive weaknesses. Just make sure before you run him outta town....that you have somebody who can take his minutes...and do it better. If not, shhhhhh.
- hawk35

Well luckily for Leaf fans who dont like him his contract is up this season.

We also said the same about Polak and Paul Ranger.

We've done alright without them.
- walshyleafsfan

ummmm, no.

Welcome to the Leafs...Alex Edler!
- AdamFrench

Even Google said back.... Who the (frank) is Alex Edler...

-39 in 2013 /14

32 yrs old.. Not happenin

Welcome to the Leafs...Alex Edler!
- AdamFrench

Thank God he's a leftie.

I'd cry if he was right handed. Luckily he ain't.

If we can sign Gardiner for under $6m I say we do it.

20 years ago. The same was said about Larry Murphy. He was blamed for everything that happened behind the Leaf blueline, then once traded to the Wings, promptly went on two Cup runs and was a main cog on the Wing Blueline.

Not defending Gardiner, he has a lot of defensive weaknesses. Just make sure before you run him outta town....that you have somebody who can take his minutes...and do it better. If not, shhhhhh.
- hawk35

the Murphy comparisons are dumb.

1) Murphy, as the leader of the Leafs defense core at the time - was not going to lead that group anywhere - and that was as a highly paid #1 d man
2) Murphy was not playing like anything close to the #1 d man
3) Murphy did win cups in Detroit - but saying he was a main cog is kind of glossing over the the other defensemen he was playing with.
4) Murphy was basically given away by the Leafs - which only happens because the player wants out.

so... all that said.. Murphy signed a big contract and it didn't work out. He left. Tavares signed a huge contract and is living up to it in every way.

Gardiner is crapping the bed... and there's a simply solution. Play better.

all fine and good.

here's the problem in a nutshell.

1) Gardiner's confidence is shot
2) Gardiner's next contract virtually guarantees he will not be a Leaf come July 2nd.
3) Gardiner crapped the bed in the playoffs last year
4) Gardiner - whether fairly or not has lost the confidence of the fan base... and we all know this is steep publically exposed hill to try and climb back up...
5) Gardiner's offensive flair has essentially disappeared

big question - should Dubas move on from him now or take the chance of going to the playoffs with him?
- BorjeFan4Ever

1) I don't think it is.

2) I agree, but I wouldn't trade him when we're a top seed headed to the playoffs.

3) So did Matthews. And his next contract is going to worse than Gardiner's. Not a fair argument, but this point is pointless.

4) The Toronto fanbase is its own problem. They trade Gardiner and are worse off for it. Then what? Who do we hate next? Hainsey? Marleau? How long until its someone who matters? The Leafs management do NOT trade a player because of its stupid fan base. That is the definition of letting the inmates run the asylum.

5) I agree. I don't know what has happened. I honestly think it's because Gardiner has no faith in Zaitsev at all. Even against the Avs, he made a nice rush, good play, and then gave up on a 2 on 1 to scramble back to his position. If it's DJ Smith, he has let Gardiner loose. If it's faith in his partner, they should remedy that.

A player like Gardiner doesn't forget how to offense. He never even knew how to defense to begin with!

I

Gardiner is a giveaway machine. But he's nowhere near the worst. He's 31st in Giveaways / 60. Doughty is 4th. Muzzin is 5th. Hainsey is 9th, Rielly is 12th, Zaitsev 14th. Dermott, by the way, is 23rd.


- Monkeypunk

It's a terrible stat.

3rd period, up by one, defenceman clears the puck from the front stoop and gets it off the glass and out.

That's a giveaway? That's a negative?

If we can sign Gardiner for under $6m I say we do it.
- Garnie

Currently playing at about a 2 milly level.

If we can sign Gardiner for under $6m I say we do it.
- Garnie

A) We Shouldn't
B) We can't.

the Murphy comparisons are dumb.

1) Murphy, as the leader of the Leafs defense core at the time - was not going to lead that group anywhere - and that was as a highly paid #1 d man
2) Murphy was not playing like anything close to the #1 d man
3) Murphy did win cups in Detroit - but saying he was a main cog is kind of glossing over the the other defensemen he was playing with.
4) Murphy was basically given away by the Leafs - which only happens because the player wants out.

so... all that said.. Murphy signed a big contract and it didn't work out. He left. Tavares signed a huge contract and is living up to it in every way.

Gardiner is crapping the bed... and there's a simply solution. Play better.
- BorjeFan4Ever

Murphy was traded as an act of mercy by Leafs management.

They knew he wasn't the problem, and they knew he didn't deserve the abuse he received from the fans and media.

It's a terrible stat.

3rd period, up by one, defenceman clears the puck from the front stoop and gets it off the glass and out.

That's a giveaway? That's a negative?
- Atomic Wedgie

i mean, say if instead he skates it out and the puck makes it into the other teams zone... then yes its a negative

Murphy was traded as an act of mercy by Leafs management.

They knew he wasn't the problem, and they knew he didn't deserve the abuse he received from the fans and media.
- Atomic Wedgie

If he was a good looking Swede, he would still be here.

Honestly dude I was just (frank)ing around. Gardiner doesn't suck. I've said that a lot over the past couple days. He's a pros/Cons kinda guy. His cons just happen to be much more frequent and severe than the average D. He still brings good to the table.
He is indeed our second best D, but that's not a good thing. That's a problem. But he'll be gone next year and it's up to Dubas to find a replacement that improves the D overall.
- UsernameUnknown

I agree on that. I don't love Gardiner, either. But I feel badly for the guy that people are booing him, when there are far more reasonable targets - like everyone on Boston - who should be booed.

Everytime the hometown fans start to boo a Leaf, some savvy guy should flash a picture of Marchand on the scoreboard.

Currently playing at about a 2 milly level.
- bixll

Currently 27th in the league in points, and +18 while playing with Zaitsev.

C'mon, fellas.

If we can sign Gardiner for under $6m I say we do it.
- Garnie

just not the money to do that.

imo, he has to be around where he currently is.
and if you account for the likley decline in play over the deal, thats even too much

If he was a good looking Swede, he would still be here.
- bixll

It's funny - Larry Murphy 100% looked like a Swede.

Currently 27th in the league in points, and +18 while playing with Zaitsev.

C'mon, fellas.
- Atomic Wedgie

I am allowed not to be a fan..

It's a terrible stat.

3rd period, up by one, defenceman clears the puck from the front stoop and gets it off the glass and out.

That's a giveaway? That's a negative?
- Atomic Wedgie

Until they give me a "giveaway severity rating" I can only go what my eyes see.
Dermott skates the puck to center and wants to dump it in but two opposing guys get on him and strip him of the puck.. +1 giveaway

Gardiner dishes out a free extra-large meatlovers pizza in the slot for a prime scoring opportunity.. +1 giveaway.

I am allowed not to be a fan..
- bixll

Turn in your Leafs Nation passport.

Turn in your Leafs Nation passport.
- Atomic Wedgie

Can I keep the lanyard?

Turn in your Leafs Nation passport.
- Atomic Wedgie

ok but his wife sewed it to his underwear so he wouldnt lose it

Turn in your Leafs Nation passport.
- Atomic Wedgie

Not a Kadri fan either, the (frank)in bum.

If we can sign Gardiner for under $6m I say we do it.
- Garnie

Me too. I'd even go a bit higher. I'd do 7.

He's a victim of partners like Zaitsev, like with Soderberg's shortie.

I'd like to steer away from a NMC though. Him snubbing Edmonton in the McDavid deal would be a bit much to handle.