GDT: 2019 Free Agent Frenzy

[lonelybadger]

I still think we need a RHD more than anything, preferably a legit Top 4 guys as well.... Makar should be on the bottom pairing starting out IMO and with the unknown of EJs health you need help on the Right Side.


Girard - EJ
Zadorov - ???
Cole - Makar

That's how I see it currently with Rosen, Connauton, and Barberio as the 7/8/9 option.


Now if the plan is for Byram to make the team then I guess you just role with 2RHD and 4 LHD but I dunnobir Byram is ready.


I would to go hard on Hamilton out of Carolina if he really is available but I dont know if that's the case.

I think you could put Cole as a RD and Rosen as the 3LD

 

[hockeyfish]

I still think we need a RHD more than anything, preferably a legit Top 4 guys as well.... Makar should be on the bottom pairing starting out IMO and with the unknown of EJs health you need help on the Right Side.


Girard - EJ
Zadorov - ???
Cole - Makar

That's how I see it currently with Rosen, Connauton, and Barberio as the 7/8/9 option.


Now if the plan is for Byram to make the team then I guess you just role with 2RHD and 4 LHD but I dunnobir Byram is ready.


I would to go hard on Hamilton out of Carolina if he really is available but I dont know if that's the case.

I feel like with all those you listed, plus Timmons and Meloche, we have enough depth to make it work.

 

[henchman21]

Gardiner might be slightly better than Zadorov, but not at nearly double the price. Within the next 2-3 years, his contract would be garbage.

Hench I gotta totally disagree with you here. Gardiner would be the teams whipping boy 10 games in. He is definitely not better than Girard, and much prefer Zadorov. If you guys think Z has brain farts/low IQ that's what your paying for in Gardiner. His skating and puck moving skills blind people to this. He's not the worst player but I wouldn't ever trust him as more than a #4 PP specialist, and not a guy you win a cup with in your top 4.

It isn't just slight... it is different realms. Gardiner is a very solid #3 who was miscast. He's going to give 40+ points a season and 30+ ES. Those ES numbers are very, very good. Top 20 sort of level. He does this while tilting the ice and being on counted on for 22 minutes (should be pulled back to 20). He played rough minutes and carried a bad, yet still came out on top more often than not. He was miscast as a top pairing guy in Toronto. Put him in a pure #3 role and you have a great piece. With his style of play and skill set, he will be a solid player for 4-5 more years. He's not high end, and he's not a top pairing guy... but he's a very solid top 4 guy.

When you throw out Z here, it is kinda nuts really... Z is a 4/5 (at best) who has spurts of top 4 play but is really more of a bottom pairing guy. We're talking a hold pairing difference of players. Z has a different role, but he can't handle the minutes, tilt the ice, or provide offense like Gardiner can. Girard definitely has the potential to be better than Gardiner, but isn't there yet. If Girard becomes as good as Gardiner is now, we have a good development out of Girard. I think it will happen and it will be within a couple seasons. Right now though, Gardiner is better.

 

[Patagonia]

It isn't just slight... it is different realms. Gardiner is a very solid #3 who was miscast. He's going to give 40+ points a season and 30+ ES. Those ES numbers are very, very good. Top 20 sort of level. He does this while tilting the ice and being on counted on for 22 minutes (should be pulled back to 20). He played rough minutes and carried a bad, yet still came out on top more often than not. He was miscast as a top pairing guy in Toronto. Put him in a pure #3 role and you have a great piece. With his style of play and skill set, he will be a solid player for 4-5 more years. He's not high end, and he's not a top pairing guy... but he's a very solid top 4 guy.

When you throw out Z here, it is kinda nuts really... Z is a 4/5 (at best) who has spurts of top 4 play but is really more of a bottom pairing guy. We're talking a hold pairing difference of players. Z has a different role, but he can't handle the minutes, tilt the ice, or provide offense like Gardiner can. Girard definitely has the potential to be better than Gardiner, but isn't there yet. If Girard becomes as good as Gardiner is now, we have a good development out of Girard. I think it will happen and it will be within a couple seasons. Right now though, Gardiner is better.

Gardiner is absolutely terrible under pressure. Here is a link of dozens of idiotic miscues in his game. For all the comments about the terrible Defence of Barrie and Kerfoot, this player is substantially worse.

jake gardiner mistakes - YouTube

He gains points when the game is out of reach. Poor hockey IQ and even with his size can't play defence.