flyercanuck Posted February 21, 2014 Author Share Posted February 21, 2014 I can't believe Toronto has done as well this year win-wise when they've basically been totally outplayed 90% of the games. Opportunistic scoring and good goaltending can take you a long ways...but I don't see it working in the playoffs. Not the way they've been dominated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jammer2 Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 @flyercanuck I don't recall a team winning the Cup allowing 40+ shots a game, do you? I swear my TO buddies LOVE Gardiner, and I don't see it. Sure, he has a bit of flash and dash, but I don't think he will ever be a serious contributing d-man on a championship caliber team. Way to many holes in his game. Morgan Riley looks a lot more like the real deal. I'd start with moving Gardiner, who should be worth a lot still. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted February 21, 2014 Author Share Posted February 21, 2014 @jammer2 Leaf fans have had Gardiners name on the Norris since his first rush in Blue & White. He has skill, but he is pretty brutal a lot of the time. He's going on 24, so compared to Rielly he's getting up there as far as "prospects" go. I see him more as a specialist than an everyday defender. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jammer2 Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 @flyercanuck I'd get what I could for Gardiner while they still can. Looking forward to not good Phaneough growing old in the B&W. Just a travesty of a signing, a CLEAR sign that their GM has no clue. Sign a damn stop gap until one of their kids gets good enough to eat all those minutes. He's already horrible, but WOW, is he gonna fade FAST!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted February 21, 2014 Author Share Posted February 21, 2014 @jammer2 I understood re-signing Phaneuf, just not the term. Who you going to replace him with? That's the problem, nobody is letting their defencemen go these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jammer2 Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 I'd just sign a run of the mill UFA for a year or two. He's gonna really suck *next* year....I can't even imagine how horrible he will be in the last 3 years of that deal....they will run him out of town, somehow, someway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted February 21, 2014 Author Share Posted February 21, 2014 @jammer2 After I hit "post" I was thinking I should edit it to mention his game will go back to normal next year. He definately elevated it in his contract year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jammer2 Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 @flyercanuck Even in a so called elevated year, Dion can barely skate backwards, guys fly by him at will!! I can't wait till he loses a step (or two), it will be comical to say the least. He does eat a lot of big minutes, and is a big physical guy, so I understand the need was there, it's really hard to replace a guy who plays big minutes against the other teams top lines, but dammmmmn....you gotta look towards the future and take a short term hit to avoid CAP HELL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted February 21, 2014 Author Share Posted February 21, 2014 @jammer2 He's no Norris candidate or anything...but he's the best they have. And ya, that contract will look Holmgrenian as the years go past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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