What is Jake Gardiner??
- Thread starter DatSnipeMatthews
- Start date
Gardiner is actually pretty good at shepherding people to the outside with his good footwork and then getting a stick check in, which he is also good at.
I'd like an option that says "The most underrated player in the NHL" as seeing leaf fans call him a number 5 is beyond laughable
Tak7
Registered User
I'm a big Gardiner fan, but I can totally understand the criticism that comes his way - he's very soft in his own zone and is a giveaway machine.
That can't be denied. I tend to see the offensive side of his game as great, and I think that makes up for his defensive issues.
But those issues exist
thewave
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- Jun 17, 2011
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Can you imagine talking to Lou and Babcock and telling them that Jake is a 3rd pairing D, probably worth trading for a 2nd rounder or less.
Good question, how many would trade Jake for a 2nd round pick.
thewave
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We discussed that. He has the puck more so he has the highest probability of the D. He makes things happen, just like EK and many other D in the league. He isn't as good but that stuff happens with his and Morgans game.
i would
if we're talking about his rights next season and he wants too much money for management
otherwise nah
Hes really really good at defence. Too bad you can't see it with your bias against him.
i'm not bias against him and i use the eye test rather than stats. like how he is soft against his man and lets them do whatever they want. that stuff doesn't get recorded does it?
So if you used your eyes when watching Gardiner you'd notice how he limits shots in the slot and generally pushes the forwards to the edge of the rink. Gardiner is great defensively in a 1v1.
Nithoniniel
Registered User
Apparently they don't like to score then, or get good chances.
If he is soft and lets opposing players walk all over him and do what they want, they will score a lot against him (which doesn't happen), or at least create lots of chances overall (which doesn't happen), or in particular from areas of the ice where he is defending (which doesn't happen).
not true. the forwards move to the edge of the rink themselves. he doesn't engage in any physicality whatsoever
Nithoniniel
Registered User
You don't need to be physical for the bolded to happen. A defender that denies space and lanes towards the center of the ice, does in fact push the player to the outside.
Field of Dreams
Registered User
I can't consider any defence of top 3 calibre when consistency is a major issue.
He needs to take adderall or something.
He needs to take adderall or something.
diceman934
Help is on the way.
I agree. Gardiner is a very good D man who gets a lot of bad rap as his partner is hot garbage. Zietsev made Morgan look bad and he has done the same to Gardiner.
My issue with Gardiner is far to often he is happy to be second to the puck.
He still makes a few to many big mistakes but he more than makes up for it with all the great plays.
He is our second best D man behind Rielly.
I mean the guy is top 7 or so in the league for points among defenders. His offense has been pretty consistent since December 1st with his defensive play following soon after
thewave
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Yet somehow he always has net positive stats in that dept. Does he make obvious mistakes? Yes he does, but in the grand scheme very few end up in our own net. More goals are scored against with the Rielly pairing, pretty sure.
That is not a slight on Morgan! Morgan has been great!
thewave
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I agree with Z making Morgan look bad. It's just true.There is no doubt we locked in far to long for an unproven player and are hoping he gets better.
This is his biggest flaw. He will let the other player get to the puck along the boards first sometimes as he relies on his stick check defensively anyways
thewave
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That being said as my previous posts probably indicate, I'm a Gardiner fan and he is criminally underrated.
He plays the most ice time of anyone on the team and the Leafs would be far far worse if he didn't play this season.
cannucky
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- Aug 18, 2011
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This is real simple and you can search your own stats , the Reilly FanBoys who insist he is our #1 D and a true #1 anywhere all say Gards is a 3-4 or lower , the guys who understand hockey all say Jake is a #1 and the stats prove it Top 10 in the league every year in shot suppression , top 10 in the league in preventing HDCA as shown in the chart here above , top of the charts in points by a Defenseman . The guy gets hobbled by anchors all year , Marincin , Carrick , Zaits and still he is the best on our team , put him with a fellow real deal Hainsey and the two of them dominate , our best shut down stats of the year came while Reilly was out so obviously Jake sucks right ? figure it out bud .
