Next year or in the long term?
Gardiner long term is our #3.
This season he is likely our #2.
Gardiner - Phaneuf
Rielly - Robidas/Polak
????? - Robidas/Polak
Last spot is filled by Percy, Granberg, or MacWilliam. Holzer will be our 7th D I think
^ Agree with Cor, I think he'll make a very good #3 defenseman in the long term but will get his shot playing with Phaneuf next year (ultimately I think Rielly will have the reigns on that spot though) .. I see Rielly as our #1 d-man, Phaneuf as a #2, and Gards at #3
In the next 3-5 seasons I figure the defense to look something along these lines (granted A LOT can change in that time)
Rielly - Phaneuf
Gardiner - ______
______ - _______
Those blank spots will be filled in with a combination of Percy, Granberg, Finn or any of the other D prospects that seem to be blossoming in the system with a combination of a veteran presence in the mix (perhaps Polak could be that guy)
Gardiner long term is our #3.
This season he is likely our #2.
Gardiner - Phaneuf
Rielly - Robidas/Polak
????? - Robidas/Polak
Last spot is filled by Percy, Granberg, or MacWilliam. Holzer will be our 7th D I think
^ Agree with Cor, I think he'll make a very good #3 defenseman in the long term but will get his shot playing with Phaneuf next year (ultimately I think Rielly will have the reigns on that spot though) .. I see Rielly as our #1 d-man, Phaneuf as a #2, and Gards at #3
In the next 3-5 seasons I figure the defense to look something along these lines (granted A LOT can change in that time)
Rielly - Phaneuf
Gardiner - ______
______ - _______
Those blank spots will be filled in with a combination of Percy, Granberg, Finn or any of the other D prospects that seem to be blossoming in the system with a combination of a veteran presence in the mix (perhaps Polak could be that guy)
Gardiner long term is our #3.
This season he is likely our #2.
Gardiner - Phaneuf
Rielly - Robidas/Polak
????? - Robidas/Polak
Last spot is filled by Percy, Granberg, or MacWilliam. Holzer will be our 7th D I think
Seems high for Reimer.
I can't see the Leafs walking from Franson at $4M with the market starved for Dmen. Even one as defensivley challenged as Cody.
Alright well if we are all in understanding that we see Gardiner as a #3 why not try and get him now locked into a contract that is going to help us in the future?
I know people are against this as it can burn you (Tyler Myers.) But there is always those that don't burn you. (John Tavares, JVR, Kyle Turris.)
My point is you look at guys who fill a similar role. (Niskanen, Orpik, etc.) They are in the over 5m+ if we could get Gardiner locked in now in the lower 4's it would be beneficial in the long run. (Assuming you think Gardiner wont take a step back.)
Alright well if we are all in understanding that we see Gardiner as a #3 why not try and get him now locked into a contract that is going to help us in the future?
I know people are against this as it can burn you (Tyler Myers.) But there is always those that don't burn you. (John Tavares, JVR, Kyle Turris.)
My point is you look at guys who fill a similar role. (Niskanen, Orpik, etc.) They are in the over 5m+ if we could get Gardiner locked in now in the lower 4's it would be beneficial in the long run. (Assuming you think Gardiner wont take a step back.)
Gardiner long term is our #3.
This season he is likely our #2.
Gardiner - Phaneuf
Rielly - Robidas/Polak
????? - Robidas/Polak
Last spot is filled by Percy, Granberg, or MacWilliam. Holzer will be our 7th D I think
Yeah it wouldn't make sense to walk away from 1 year award at $4M, there isn't a cap crunch this season and they could deal him for an asset during the season.
Even letting him go as UFA after the season if a deal can't be made during the season would make more sense than walking away from an arbitration award.[/QUOTE]
I may be wrong but I dont think we can trade him if we accept the arbitration ruling.
I think he has to wait a year.
Yeah it wouldn't make sense to walk away from 1 year award at $4M, there isn't a cap crunch this season and they could deal him for an asset during the season.
Even letting him go as UFA after the season if a deal can't be made during the season would make more sense than walking away from an arbitration award.[/QUOTE]
I may be wrong but I dont think we can trade him if we accept the arbitration ruling.
I think he has to wait a year.
That would be the case when a team matches an offersheet, there is no restriction on trading a player related to arbitration at all.
Seems like now we have too many guys that want to play Right D
Phaneuf-Polak
Gardiner-Robidas
Rielly-Holzer
MacWilliam
That's what I was thinking. MacWilliam can fill the role Ranger was in last year where sometimes he gets rotated in. To be honest he's not really needed in the AHL with so many defensemen there as it is, especially left-handed defensemen. If that's the case, we don't need to move Marshall as I previously thought unless we suddenly bring in more defensemen prospects (unlikely). It's the forward position.
Percy-Granberg
Finn-Nilsson
Knodel-Loov
Marshall/Yuen
Phaneuf prefers, and is better on the right side. He won't be playing on the left. They may try it in the pre-season, but ultimatley he'll likely be on the right side.
You are more likely to see Granberg over Holzer and MacWilliam. Leafs believe he is ready, and quite frankly, he is.
The biggest questionmark that surrounds Granberg, is if he can handle the physical aspect of the show.
He is so effective using his stick and his positioning throughout the ice is strong. The Leafs can't afford to have another defenceman that is soft in his own zone.
You see issues with his physicality? How so?
I watched about 15-20 Marlies games this year.
At the start of the year, it seemed like he was getting overmatched. I didn't pay attention to that because it was his first time in North America and there is a lot of adjustments to time and space that he would have to fix.
Later in the season, he looked a lot better. He doesn't really intimidate anyone physically, but just knows how to play, much in the same way that Carl Gunnarsson plays. They don't play physically, just use angles properly, take hits to make plays, take guys out of the play by pinning them up against the boards.
That's how he's going to be during his career and I don't mind that. But is that what the Leafs need to compliment their roster currently? The reason they traded Gunnarsson was because he didn't compliment the team and they needed guys that would.
Phaneuf prefers, and is better on the right side. He won't be playing on the left. They may try it in the pre-season, but ultimatley he'll likely be on the right side.
You are more likely to see Granberg over Holzer and MacWilliam. Leafs believe he is ready, and quite frankly, he is.
Phaneuf prefers, and is better on the right side. He won't be playing on the left. They may try it in the pre-season, but ultimatley he'll likely be on the right side.
You are more likely to see Granberg over Holzer and MacWilliam. Leafs believe he is ready, and quite frankly, he is.