I submit an alternate, somewhat simpler reason that Gardiner remains unsigned...
he (frank)ing sucks!
- BestRapperAlive

He doesn't suck - there are just too many holes in his game for a long term 6-7mln AAV deal. Plus the injury doesn't help him.

Minnesota was going to be his team.
Since they fired the GM there, will take a bit more time to get things done - first a new GM, and then Gardiner to the Wild on a 3y deal at 6.25mln or something like that.

Ceci is not a top4 RHD.
Barrie is.

Ceci will barely make the team, let alone the lineup.
- MaximusAurelius

Ceci is penciled in for a top-4 role.

You may not like it.

I may not like it.

But you don't give a guy a $4.5 million contract ($200,000 more than you had to) with no money upfront, unless you think he will be a mainstay on your roster.

Don't shoot the messenger here - I'm just listing out the facts.

How much do you want to bet?
- Santo_44

I will bet you 1 tallcan of mill street organic. Wait, what are we betting on again?

He doesn't suck - there are just too many holes in his game for a long term 6-7mln AAV deal. Plus the injury doesn't help him.

Minnesota was going to be his team.
Since they fired the GM there, will take a bit more time to get things done - first a new GM, and then Gardiner to the Wild on a 3y deal at 6.25mln or something like that.
- MaximusAurelius

so...he sucks?

Ceci is not a top4 RHD.
Barrie is.

Ceci will barely make the team, let alone the lineup.
- MaximusAurelius

Ceci was brought in to take on a top 4 role while Dermott his injured. Once he's back to form, we're all pretty sure that Ceci falls into a 5/6 role, which is good. Maybe he plays himself into a 6/7 role, which would be great, because it would mean that organizationally other players are stepping up.

I doubt that Ceci was acquired by Toronto without Babcock's approval to some degree.

Ceci isn't the guy who you sit there and say, "Whoa. We should get this diamond in the rough!", but when you can crawl out from under 5 years of Zaitsev for one year of Ceci, you'd ask your head coach - can you do something with this guy, or do we keep Zaitsev?

Ceci was brought in to take on a top 4 role while Dermott his injured. Once he's back to form, we're all pretty sure that Ceci falls into a 5/6 role, which is good. Maybe he plays himself into a 6/7 role, which would be great, because it would mean that organizationally other players are stepping up.

I doubt that Ceci was acquired by Toronto without Babcock's approval to some degree.

Ceci isn't the guy who you sit there and say, "Whoa. We should get this diamond in the rough!", but when you can crawl out from under 5 years of Zaitsev for one year of Ceci, you'd ask your head coach - can you do something with this guy, or do we keep Zaitsev?
- Monkeypunk

Ceci will not be in a top4 role at start of season; basically since it will become clear during the preseason that he is not good enough.

It will be Muzzin - Barrie
Rielly with someone
Marincin - Schmaltz

Ceci benched.

Whoever will be with Rielly - it will not be Ceci.

Ceci is penciled in for a top-4 role.

You may not like it.

I may not like it.

But you don't give a guy a $4.5 million contract ($200,000 more than you had to) with no money upfront, unless you think he will be a mainstay on your roster.

Don't shoot the messenger here - I'm just listing out the facts.
- Atomic Wedgie

Forget the trade request for a moment; who is (can be) the better RHD Zaitsev or Ceci?

Ceci will not be in a top4 role at start of season; basically since it will become clear during the preseason that he is not good enough.

It will be Muzzin - Barrie
Rielly with someone
Marincin - Schmaltz

Ceci benched.

Whoever will be with Rielly - it will not be Ceci.
- MaximusAurelius

I can pretty much guarantee CECI will start in the top 4. When Dermott comes back and gets his feet wet - good chance he takes over top 4. But until then, it's looking so.

Forget the trade request for a moment; who is (can be) the better RHD Zaitsev or Ceci?
- Leafsandbolts

Id rather not think about either

There's probably 30+ forwards on contracts with lower AAV that I'd rather have on my team than Nylander. He's really a meh player that can add some points when on the PP and with Matthews - but he's definitely not a gamechanger and Leafs can use the 7mln in caphit in better ways in my opinion.
- MaximusAurelius

so 1 per team or so. That makes Nylander sound pretty decent

Julius Honka?
- RickJames77

Roman Polak? Taylor Fedun?

so 1 per team or so. That makes Nylander sound pretty decent
- senstroll

there are quite a few other fw's that i'd rather have on my team - that are on AAV > 7mln. so he wouldn't be in my top50 of fw's i'd like on my team.

there are quite a few other fw's that i'd rather have on my team - that are on AAV > 7mln. so he wouldn't be in my top50 of fw's i'd like on my team.
- MaximusAurelius

what about contracts that were signed at or after Willie?

problem is comparing cap it signed several seasons ago to one in 2018

there are quite a few other fw's that i'd rather have on my team - that are on AAV > 7mln. so he wouldn't be in my top50 of fw's i'd like on my team.
- MaximusAurelius

Well we are all very happy you don't run the team.

Id rather not think about either
- Fakepartofme

Haha, fair enough but Zaitsev was locked into the 2nd RHD spot.

Ceci was brought in to take on a top 4 role while Dermott his injured. Once he's back to form, we're all pretty sure that Ceci falls into a 5/6 role, which is good. Maybe he plays himself into a 6/7 role, which would be great, because it would mean that organizationally other players are stepping up.

I doubt that Ceci was acquired by Toronto without Babcock's approval to some degree.

Ceci isn't the guy who you sit there and say, "Whoa. We should get this diamond in the rough!", but when you can crawl out from under 5 years of Zaitsev for one year of Ceci, you'd ask your head coach - can you do something with this guy, or do we keep Zaitsev?
- Monkeypunk

This is what Leafs fans are hoping for, but by no means is this for certain.

Do I like Dermott? Sure.

Do I think he's ready for a top 4 role? No real indication this is the case.

Last year, he was 6th on the team in EV TOI/GP (7th if you count Rosen).

Almost no PP time.

6th in SH TOI/GP.

Ceci was 2nd in EV TOI/GP for Ottawa.

Almost no PP time.

#1 for PK TOI/GP

Yes, apples to oranges, but my point remains:

Leafs fans are hoping that Dermott steps up this year. But it's a hope, not a certainty.

For now, pencil in Ceci above him on the depth chart.

what about contracts that were signed at or after Willie?

problem is comparing cap it signed several seasons ago to one in 2018
- senstroll

Stop using facts.

Go off feelings.

there are quite a few other fw's that i'd rather have on my team - that are on AAV > 7mln. so he wouldn't be in my top50 of fw's i'd like on my team.
- MaximusAurelius

No matter how many times you say it, Zach Hyman is still not better than William Nylander

This is what Leafs fans are hoping for, but by no means is this for certain.

Do I like Dermott? Sure.

Do I think he's ready for a top 4 role? No real indication this is the case.

Last year, he was 6th on the team in EV TOI/GP (7th if you count Rosen).

Almost no PP time.

6th in SH TOI/GP.

Ceci was 2nd in EV TOI/GP for Ottawa.

Almost no PP time.

#1 for PK TOI/GP

Yes, apples to oranges, but my point remains:

Leafs fans are hoping that Dermott steps up this year. But it's a hope, not a certainty.

For now, pencil in Ceci above him on the depth chart.
- Atomic Wedgie

If Dermott is ready for top 4 mins by the TDL I will be surprised.

Why has everyone accepted the narrative that everyone is waiting for Marner to sign?

I mean, I know we are the centre of the hockey universe and all, but Brayden Point is a kinda good hockey player.
- Atomic Wedgie

I think that Hawks guys has some good ideas there.

Marner is uniquely able to use a couple higher paid players on his own team as comparables.

So, it could be that Marner can max out the range he might sign and drag them up a little bit also by comparison.

As someone else pointed out, the acid test will come if Marner sits through camp... are all the other RFA's willing to do the same or will one or more of them cave?

Unfortunately, I think the Leafs will sign Marner to a total bullpoop contract like 2 * 10 million.

Well we are all very happy you don't run the team.
- Santo_44

I dissent to this statement. Max, take the wheel!

I dissent to this statement. Max, take the wheel!
- RickJames77

Imagine the horror.

Forget the trade request for a moment; who is (can be) the better RHD Zaitsev or Ceci?
- Leafsandbolts

To be perfectly honest, I'm not familiar with Ceci enough to make that assessment.

Ask me again at US Thanksgiving.

I think that Hawks guys has some good ideas there.

Marner is uniquely able to use a couple higher paid players on his own team as comparables.

So, it could be that Marner can max out the range he might sign and drag them up a little bit also by comparison.

As someone else pointed out, the acid test will come if Marner sits through camp... are all the other RFA's willing to do the same or will one or more of them cave?

Unfortunately, I think the Leafs will sign Marner to a total bullpoop contract like 2 * 10 million.
- Aetherial

To a certain extent.

If/when Dubas says "we can't sign you to a contact that is compared to Matthews, we are going to look at a trade."

Can Marner use Matthews as a comparable for his new team? No (frank)ing way.

I can pretty much guarantee CECI will start in the top 4. When Dermott comes back and gets his feet wet - good chance he takes over top 4. But until then, it's looking so.
- Lucas.Neilson

i wish this wasnt true but it likely is. there isnt really another option right now.