News Article: Gardiner update looking positive

[Budsfan]

 

[Guy Boucher]

Oh thank God

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Great news. Dermott looks like he is skating fine. A couple practices away from back in lineup. Today non contact and Sunday hopefully full contact. Maybe back Monday night. or worst case he is back in lineup on Wednesday night and gets 6 games in before playoffs.

 

[Budsfan]

 

[ShaneFalco]

Be interesting to see what Moore can do on that line if Nylander can't go

 

[ToneDog]

It is pretty delicious that all the Leafs fans complaining we don't have enough size and toughness on the back end are now forced to accept that losing the skilled dmen is a much bigger problem, even when you replace them with guys that are 6'5".

TB doing just fine with their big dmen.

Hedman 6'6" 225
Sergachev 6'3" 215
Chernak 6'4" 225
Colburn 6'5" 215

 

[stickty111]

It is pretty delicious that all the Leafs fans complaining we don't have enough size and toughness on the back end are now forced to accept that losing the skilled dmen is a much bigger problem, even when you replace them with guys that are 6'5".

Small>Size

 

[zeke]

TB doing just fine with their big dmen.

Hedman 6'6" 225
Sergachev 6'3" 215
Chernak 6'4" 225
Colburn 6'5" 215

Hedman 6'6" 225 --- Rielly 6'1 220
McDonagh 6'1" 215 - Muzzin 6'3" 215

Stralman 5'11" 190 -- Gardiner 6'2" 205
Sergachev 6'3" 215 -- Dermott 6'0" 205

Coburn 6'5" 225 --- Marincin 6'5" 215
Cernak 6'4" 225 --- Holl 6'4" 205
Girardi 6'1" 210 --- Hainsey 6'3" 205
Ruutta 6'3" 200 --- Zaitsev 6'2" 195

 

[ToneDog]

Hedman 6'6" 225 --- Rielly 6'1 220
McDonagh 6'1" 215 - Muzzin 6'3" 215

Stralman 5'11" 190 -- Gardiner 6'2" 205
Sergachev 6'3" 215 -- Dermott 6'0" 205

Coburn 6'5" 225 --- Marincin 6'5" 215
Cernak 6'4" 225 --- Holl 6'4" 205
Girardi 6'1" 210 --- Hainsey 6'3" 205
Ruutta 6'3" 200 --- Zaitsev 6'2" 195

Difference in the big guys is quality. Anybody calling for size and grit on D (including our coach) is not asking for more Holl, Oz and Marincin. One Hedman would have been suffice (I jest of course).

 

[jaric1862]

This is really good news. Leafs definitely deserve to be in the conversation of legit cup contenders if they get these 2 back before the playoffs

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Difference in the big guys is quality. Anybody calling for size and grit on D (including our coach) is not asking for more Holl, Oz and Marincin. One Hedman would have been suffice (I jest of course).

One of Cernak or Coburn would really really help too. Two of them and I think we have the cup this year.

 

[araisarena]

Muzzin-Rielly
Gardiner-Dermott
Hainsey-zaitsev

just try it, coach, just try it.

YES PLEASE

 

[zeke]

One of Cernak or Coburn would really really help too. Two of them and I think we have the cup this year.

cernak looks like the real deal. beter than sergachev.

coburn isn't anything better than what we have.

 

[The CyNick]

It is pretty delicious that all the Leafs fans complaining we don't have enough size and toughness on the back end are now forced to accept that losing the skilled dmen is a much bigger problem, even when you replace them with guys that are 6'5".

I think the people who want toughness want them to be NHL quality D.

The young GM made statements in the media that our depth on D was fine. Then we had two injuries and he wasn't able to find quality replacements. He also didn't bother addressing the need at the trade deadline.

So either he is a poor evaluator of talent (evidence would point to this) or he's a blowhard who spews nonsense in the media (ie our D depth is solid, Nylander contact isn't urgent, etc).

Neither is good for the young GM

 

[Nithoniniel]

If Moore is in that spot, might be that Nylander will miss games. I imagine that if they just needed a fill-in, we'd see Petan there.

 

[The CyNick]

Muzzin-Rielly
Gardiner-Dermott
Hainsey-zaitsev

just try it, coach, just try it.

Rielly is far less effective in his off side. Muzzin has been extremely inconsistent in sheltered minutes. Now you want him logging the heaviest minutes? The guy who is currently paired with Rielly has been extremely effective in his role and allowed Rielly the freedom to have a breakthrough season

 

[JT AM da real deal]

cernak looks like the real deal. beter than sergachev.

coburn isn't anything better than what we have.

Disagree I can tell you with 100% certainty no one likes going into the corner with Coburn. But no one is scared of Marincin and Z. That is the difference. It truly is a night and day thing.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

If Moore is in that spot, might be that Nylander will miss games. I imagine that if they just needed a fill-in, we'd see Petan there.

Willy will play tomorrow night ... wink wink ... he was ill in Buffalo too but played

 

[zeke]

Rielly is far less effective in his off side. Muzzin has been extremely inconsistent in sheltered minutes. Now you want him logging the heaviest minutes? The guy who is currently paired with Rielly has been extremely effective in his role and allowed Rielly the freedom to have a breakthrough season

Muzzin has been excellent, and the Muzzin-Rielly pair was dominant when we went 5-1 with them as our top pairing the first 6gms after the trade, before Babs decided to break the defense.

 

[Daisy Jane]

Difference in the big guys is quality. Anybody calling for size and grit on D (including our coach) is not asking for more Holl, Oz and Marincin. One Hedman would have been suffice (I jest of course).

no, no no. our defense is under-rated. i'm sure they'll prove everyone wrong.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

Both look smooth and looks hindered by their respective injuries.

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

It is pretty delicious that all the Leafs fans complaining we don't have enough size and toughness on the back end are now forced to accept that losing the skilled dmen is a much bigger problem, even when you replace them with guys that are 6'5".

This is a bit of a stretch. Gardiner is a much better defensemen than his replacement. It would be like suggesting if we replaced Nylander with an AHL callup with size is proof that size is useless. I don't think we need to move away from skill but of course Gardiner is better than AHL callups.

 

[Suntouchable13]

People are idiots.

I don't know how to express how happy this news makes me, I really thought Jake was done for the year. I figured Dermott would be back anyway and if Jake can play again, even if he's at like 90% or something and the rest of our team is at full health, I like our chances against Boston a whole helluvalot better.

Amazing news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I disagree. I am not a fan of his game. He does things that are valuable, sure, but I have grown very tired of his very soft play. I won't deny that he is a huge, massive, upgrade over Mari or Holl or Oz.

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

What happened to Nylander?

 

[Gary Nylund]

I think the people who want toughness want them to be NHL quality D.

The young GM made statements in the media that our depth on D was fine. Then we had two injuries and he wasn't able to find quality replacements. He also didn't bother addressing the need at the trade deadline.

So either he is a poor evaluator of talent (evidence would point to this) or he's a blowhard who spews nonsense in the media (ie our D depth is solid, Nylander contact isn't urgent, etc).

Neither is good for the young GM

Or maybe, just maybe - since he can't see the future he couldn't know that two of our Dmen would get injured and the only blowhard around here is you.