RATIONALE FOR MOVING JAKE GARDINER TO LEFT WING:
1) He's a top 20 offensive d-man - but he's also a below average defender.
- Given his age, experience & consistency over time, we shouldn't expect his defense to improve.
- His greatest strengths = skating, speed, offensive rushes, vision, passing & creativity.
- His greatest weaknesses = positioning, coverage, defensive awareness & decision making.
- Every season, his strong offensive contributions end up negated by numerous defensive lapses.
- The logical solution is to let him play to his strengths & provide a buffer for his weaknesses.
2) Adjusting to LW is far less difficult than adjusting to defense or center.
- Wingers have the most sheltered & least structured position in hockey.
- He'll have a second line of defense to cover any mistakes he makes during the learning curve.
- He already has a play-making wingers skill set, so almost all of the adjustment will be positional.
3) Gardiner at LW matches team needs for next season.
- If Komy & JVR are let go, we'll be weak at LW (Marleau, Hyman, Johnsson, Martin, Grundstrom).
- None of our remaining LW's are playmakers or pass-first players (they're grinders & shooters).
- Our remaining centers (Matthews, Kadri, Nylander) are scorers & could all benefit from a passer.
- Our LD should be OK with Rielly, Dermott, Borgman & Rosen (possibly better if we sign DeHaan).
4) Gardiner's new role, ice-time & potential performance.
- He could excel on a match-up line with Kadri. (a weak d-man with speed is still a good defensive FW).
- He could end up as our best 2-way LW (and possibly the best play-maker for Kadri on LW).
- Potential line = Gards - Kadri - Brown/Kappy (which leaves Marleau to support Nylander on defense).
- His ice-time would take a hit, but he could be used in all situations (PK forward & PP2 quarterback).
- Even with less ice, I don't see his production dropping (it's possible he jumps to 70+ points from 52).
I honestly believe Gardiner has the upside of a point/game winger that helps shut down top lines. I also think he could reach that potential within a year at LW.
If that did happen - he'd be so much more valuable than he is on defense. Dermott might even be an upgrade on the 2nd pair & Hainsey is a natural LD if needed. This is the last year of his contract & I don't see him staying long-term in his current role. If there was a time to test it out, its now.
The other option would be to trade him this summer - but if no one's offering a 1st + a young player/prospect (I doubt it) - I'd rather try him at LW.
2018-19 SEASON
Johnsson - Matthews - Marner
Marleau - Nylander - Kappy
Gardiner - Kadri - Hyman
Grundy - Aaltonen - Brown
Martin - Gauthier - Leivo
Timashov - Brooks - J.Bracco
Rielly - Hainsey
Dermott - Zaitsev
Borgman - Carrick
Rosen - Holl
Nielsen - Liljegren
*Assuming we make no trades/signings (hope we do)
Uh...switching our 2nd best D to LW is solving our biggest position of need problem? No. Just the opposite, it is creating a bigger hole. We have no shortage of guys who could slot in as top 9 LWs and none to slot in as 2nd pairing D unless you're ready to give Dermott that job. Are we going to shift Auston to RHD next?
Gardiner is a very polarizing player around here. He is what he is, a top end offensive guy who makes bonehead plays in his own end. You either find him a partner that balances this out or you move on and trade him if you think Dermott is ready to fill the void.
I for one favour moving him this summer and using the assets to address the RHD problem.
I'm going to say we have long term:
Rielly #1 LHD
Dermott #2 LHD
Zaitsev #3 RHD (ideally higher due to cap hit but we can only count on 3rd pairing quality currently)
Then we have 2 pending UFA's
Gardiner #2 LHD
Hainsey- Whatever role is needed, I'd extend him again if reasonable and short term again
Then we have the rest:
Carrick- I've given up on
Polak- Time to move on but could be useful
Marlies guys- a bunch of question marks, hopes, dreams, maybes and probably nots+ Timmy who may take awhile.
If management feels the need for a quick fix they may grab a guy like Tanev to slot in the top pair and push everyone down but I am of the mind we should trade Gardiner and use those assets in a bigger play for a top pairing RHD.
Until that spot is solved, however it is solved, we will always have concerns and people playing in roles above their skill. 1 guy could change everything and make this defense look much better.
I almost don't care who he is, how old he is or how much he costs at this point because until then our only answer is to outscore our problems, which doesn't always work. I want Doughty, OEL, gods even Weber is looking like an option.
Or we save our assets and draft D until we have the unit we need, but that could take another 5 years or more.