4th most.

Buffalo had the 3rd least which is weird. We should go after Hunwick
- walshyleafsfan

3rd and 6th and he’s yours.

Apparently Buffalo and Gardiner are working on a deal.

Should I be worried?
- ImThatGuy

If that's true, no. He would fit in well with that team.

Apparently Buffalo and Gardiner are working on a deal.

Should I be worried?
- ImThatGuy

Does that mean Ristolainen is being traded? Jets maybe?

If that's true, no. He would fit in well with that team.
- BetterCallSaul

I was thinking the same. Perfect place for him to end up.

If that's true, no. He would fit in well with that team.
- BetterCallSaul

Gardiner is far from perfect but he's not that bad of a player.

I do dread the idea of paying him 6M+ dollars a year though.

I was thinking the same. Perfect place for him to end up.
- bixll

Gardiner would be cheered more at Leaf home games playing for the Sabres than he did playing for the Leafs.

Does that mean Ristolainen is being traded? Jets maybe?
- gergeswillems

Yes.

When the Sabres acquired Miller it all but sealed his fate.

Hopefully for a 2nd line center.

Buffalo currently has 10 d-men so it would have to mean more moves coming other than Risto.

Scandella for scraps.

McCabe possibly but he is the only guy back there that has any balls to hit/fight someone.

I have this guy feeling ceci is going to be like one of those players the leafs used to mismanage and give away. Of course I could be wrong lol
- mykokes

It's actually a very good point. I've not paid any attention to the Senators, really . . . how much of their game is based on stretch passes? Is Ceci at least good at that? From what I read, he had poor gap control, but was a good skater.

There's no set play, but the Leafs seem to like to have a support D and a stretch pass option available as the forwards fly the zone. If the pass option closes, they move the puck to the other D; the far side winger should swing back to provide additional outlet options, and try again, while avoiding the forecheck.

If he can make that pass, it would be valuable. If the Senators already play a similar style . . .yikes! If he crumbles under a forecheck, that will be bad, because with a stretch pass team, if you hesitate to make that pass, you're pooched by a heavy forecheck.

Yes.

When the Sabres acquired Miller it all but sealed his fate.

Hopefully for a 2nd line center.

Buffalo currently has 10 d-men so it would have to mean more moves coming other than Risto.

Scandella for scraps.

McCabe possibly but he is the only guy back there that has any balls to hit/fight someone.
- ImThatGuy

Jets aren't deep at center. Which team can spare a second line center? Preds would love to trade Turris but they don't need Ristolainen.

Gardiner is far from perfect but he's not that bad of a player.

I do dread the idea of paying him 6M+ dollars a year though.
- Scabeh

Gardiner is a good player, who makes some mistakes that are so obvious but he drives play and helps your team win games. He also really wants to be a Leaf and everything that’s been said is he is/was willing to take quite a bit less to stick around, which is nice considering all the kids wanting to set the market

Gardiner would be cheered more at Leaf home games playing for the Sabres than he did playing for the Leafs.
- gergeswillems

Yup, cause he would help the Leafs more than the Sabers

Jets aren't deep at center. Which team can spare a second line center? Preds would love to trade Turris but they don't need Ristolainen.
- gergeswillems

Buffalo needs forward help in the worst way.

There was some “speculation” of Ehlers for Risto earlier but that has gone away.

Change his name to Cody Cecisson and Holland will be all over it like Roeper on a Babcock ice time game sheet.
- gergeswillems

Roeper just makes up #’s when all else fails, hoping no one else has google I guess

Yup, cause he would help the Leafs more than the Sabers
- bixll

I feel like Gardiner is the most polarizing Leaf player in years.

Half the fan base likes him. The other half hates his guts.

I feel like Gardiner is the most polarizing Leaf player in years.

Half the fan base likes him. The other half hates his guts.
- ImThatGuy

Well he's made some pretty bad mistakes at critical times. And you just know it's gonna happen again.

So despite him playing overall well.... how can you love the guy?

Gardiner is a good player, who makes some mistakes that are so obvious but he drives play and helps your team win games. He also really wants to be a Leaf and everything that’s been said is he is/was willing to take quite a bit less to stick around, which is nice considering all the kids wanting to set the market
- ClarksonDavid

I’ll give him Ceci’s money plus $1m if we have room. I think he’d be silly to turn down 7x7 that another team will probably give him.

I’ll give him Ceci’s money plus $1m if we have room. I think he’d be silly to turn down 7x7 that another team will probably give him.
- Garnie

Depends on the team, he’s going to be extremely well off either way and maybe he values playing in Toronto over the more money. He spent a lot of bad years here and now the teams turning around, maybe he doesn’t want to go to a team that doesn’t have a reasonable shot. Either way, it’s nice that some guys would take less to be in Toronto.

Depends on the team, he’s going to be extremely well off either way and maybe he values playing in Toronto over the more money. He spent a lot of bad years here and now the teams turning around, maybe he doesn’t want to go to a team that doesn’t have a reasonable shot. Either way, it’s nice that some guys would take less to be in Toronto.
- ClarksonDavid

Yep, surprising since he was boo’d again this year.

I’d play for a 12 pack and some cigs if I was still in shape ( only for the Leafs though )

I’ll give him Ceci’s money plus $1m if we have room. I think he’d be silly to turn down 7x7 that another team will probably give him.
- Garnie

One thing to consider is that "Ceci's money" is potentially what keeps Muzzin and/or Barrie in 2020 and beyond.

I feel like Gardiner is the most polarizing Leaf player in years.

Half the fan base likes him. The other half hates his guts.
- ImThatGuy

He’s not nearly as bad as his haterz suggest, but he will also lead you to abandon believing in the accuracy of advanced stats altogether.

I feel like Gardiner is the most polarizing Leaf player in years.

Half the fan base likes him. The other half hates his guts.
- ImThatGuy

I liked him for what he was, what made it easier to put up with. He's a fast, high risk offensive d-man who will contribute but surely get caught at times. However his contributions were overshadowed by knuckle head moves occurring at the worst times. Similar to Kadri. I do believe think Gardiner haters will notice his loss more than they think, but for likely 6 mill + a year, it's easier to palate.

One thing to consider is that "Ceci's money" is potentially what keeps Muzzin and/or Barrie in 2020 and beyond.
- Monkeypunk

Hopefully the cap goes up a bit, we can always trade Gardiner if needed, just throw in a 1st ( see anyone can GM )

I liked him for what he was, what made it easier to put up with. He's a fast, high risk offensive d-man who will contribute but surely get caught at times. However his contributions were overshadowed by knuckle head moves occurring at the worst times. Similar to Kadri. I do believe think Gardiner haters will notice his loss more than they think, but for likely 6 mill + a year, it's easier to palate.
- JSC

He could be the best #5 defenceman in the league.

Play him higher and you are spinning the Russian roulette wheel.

Its been pretty kawhiet out there lately.

I liked him for what he was, what made it easier to put up with. He's a fast, high risk offensive d-man who will contribute but surely get caught at times. However his contributions were overshadowed by knuckle head moves occurring at the worst times. Similar to Kadri. I do believe think Gardiner haters will notice his loss more than they think, but for likely 6 mill + a year, it's easier to palate.
- JSC

We now have Barrie and Ceci.

So we may miss Gardiner, but we won’t miss Gardineresque gaffes. We will have an ample supply.