News Article: Jake Gardiner and the Leafs D

[hobarth]

I thought it seemed to take Gardiner about 65 games to get his head straight which I attribute to the RC affect so I'm hoping what we saw at the end of last year is what we'll see more of this year.

 

[zeke]

Robidas is 37 and coming off 2 broken leg injuries last year. Replacing Gunnarsson who was #24 overall in SH TOI/g among all Dmen is going to be big shoes to fill. Gunnarsson is 10 years younger than Robidas.

Robidas was the 12th oldest Dman in the NHL last year, and higher now with Salo, Gill, Bouillon, Jovonovski and others UFAs).. As one of the older players in the league Robidas recovery time would expected to be longer than a youngster as well.

Blocking shots killing penalties on surgically repaired legs is going to be another thing as it would make him at far more risk for re-injury or new injuries, playing those tough minutes at that age now as well as taking a regular top 4 ES spot.

I expect to see Granberg killing more penalties this season while a Leaf than Rielly or Gardiner.

broken legs aren't exactly recurring injuries. its not a real concern.

and Robidas has built a career on being a big minute PK guy, so I wouldn't worry about his ability there. Last year thanks to his injuries was the first time in years he dipped below elite PK ice time.

Rank of nhl dmen SH ice time per game (min 20gms played)

12-13: 19th
11-12: 27th
10-11: 14th
09-10: 30th


we won't be asking Robidas to play the 24-25mpg he was playing just a few years ago, but getting him 20-22mpg shouldn't be an issue.

its not like we're boston asking 37yr old Chara to play 25mpg, or montreal asking 36yr old markov to play 25mpg, but more along the lines of these guys:

COL J.Hejda (36): 22:20
NJ M.Zidlicky (37): 21:39
SJS D.Boyle (38): 21:17
PHI M.Streit (37): 20:39
LA W.Mitchell (37): 20:20
PHI K.Timonen (39): 20:20
NJD B.Salvador (28): 20:18

 

[zeke]

I'd rather see something like this if we're going to be stuck with Franson again (which I hope we aren't):

Gardiner 17:00es, 3:00pp, 1:00pk, 21:00tot
Phaneuf 17:00es, 2:00pp, 3:00pk, 22:00tot

Rielly: 17:00es, 3:00pp, 1:00pk, 21:00tot
Robidas: 17:00es, 0:00pp, 3:00pk, 20:00tot

Franson 15:00es, 2:00pp, 0:00pk, 17:00tot
Polak 15:00es, 0:00pp, 4:00pk, 19:00tot

This way it spreads out the load a lot more for Dion, giving him the 2nd PP unit ice time and less ES ice time. It gives Rielly and Gardiner a chance to show more on the PP (and hopefully make it deadlier) and isolates Franson where he won't get exposed. You could also actually see the developement of an actual top four in this case.

I hope for the best for Gardiner and Rielly. If they can play well then yeah, give em the minutes. I don't trust Randy's system in the least, though, to help them be effective.

And Randy is obsessed with L/R handedness so getting Franson and Polak both on the bottom pair is unlikely.

I don't think Dion should get fewer minutes, though - he was much worse last year with reduced ice time than he was in previous years with much more ice time.

 

[calcal798]

I hope for the best for Gardiner and Rielly. If they can play well then yeah, give em the minutes. I don't trust Randy's system in the least, though, to help them be effective.

And Randy is obsessed with L/R handedness so getting Franson and Polak both on the bottom pair is unlikely.

I don't think Dion should get fewer minutes, though - he was much worse last year with reduced ice time than he was in previous years with much more ice time.

He wasn't a worse player with less ice time, he was pretty much just a different player after the olympic break, going -17 over a 22 game stretch (which is abysmal).

I wouldn't want to see him necessarily with a large decrease in icetime, I think the jist of what I would want to see is Gardiner and Rielly taking over the 1st PP unit, and slowly getting introduced to the PK and getting some icetime on it. Gardiner and Rielly both managed to produce better results on the PP with less time, which is why I would want to see this change.

 

[Hockey Talker29]

Gardiner and Rielly both need significant PP and PK time. Neither should be sheltered from special teams roles.

We want to develop these players into competent all-around defenders. How are they supposed to do that if they don't learn to play in these situations.

Also, there is no way Franson should see the 2nd pairing this year, if he remains on the team.

He's either a 3rd-pairing, PP specialist, or he's in the press box.

The 2nd pairing should be Gardiner and Robidas/Polak (whoever isn't playing with Dion on the first pairing). This pair should get similar ES minutes to Phaneuf and his partner. Dion flamed out last season. He can't handle that workload all year.

I don't like putting Gardiner with Phaneuf, because then our 2nd pairing will likely be too weak. I still want Rielly playing sheltered 3rd line minutes. He's very young. Plenty of time for his minutes to increase.

 

[gabeliscious]

I hope for the best for Gardiner and Rielly. If they can play well then yeah, give em the minutes. I don't trust Randy's system in the least, though, to help them be effective.

And Randy is obsessed with L/R handedness so getting Franson and Polak both on the bottom pair is unlikely.

I don't think Dion should get fewer minutes, though - he was much worse last year with reduced ice time than he was in previous years with much more ice time.

i suspect we will see;

phaneuf-robidas
gardiner-franson
rielly-polak

i think this is the most balanced and works lefty-righty im pretty sure.

1st pp = phaneuf-gardiner
2nd pp= rielly -franson

1st pk = phaneuf-robidas
2nd pk = rielly-polak

 

[Pholus]

Actually only 6 including Gardiner (when re-signed)..

Phaneuf, Gardiner, Rielly, Robidas, Franson and Polak.

Everyone else is a Marlie with limited NHL experience.

Leafs have now removed Gunnarsson, Gleason and Ranger and added only Robidas and Polak.

Oh, well I guess I was counted limited NHL experience as NHL experience
You're right in that they will only have 6 proven NHL dmen, though.

Gotta think Granberg and Percy will get some spot time in case of injury .... Holzer too

I expect Franson to be playing elsewhere to start the season too

I think MacWilliam could also get some time as an injury call-up (depending on how healthy the d is), I got the idea that he made a good impression during the last pre-season with his play.

 

[diceman934]

i suspect we will see;

phaneuf-robidas
gardiner-franson
rielly-polak

i think this is the most balanced and works lefty-righty im pretty sure.

1st pp = phaneuf-gardiner
2nd pp= rielly -franson

1st pk = phaneuf-robidas
2nd pk = rielly-polak

Dion plays the Left side for a reason.....he is not as good pivoting to his weak side. This is why Dion prefers the right side as then when pivoting to the outside it is to his right ( strong side). Randy tried him on the Left side and it was horrible....people blamed his partners but Dion himself played bad as well.

 

[Parkdale]

Dion plays the Left side for a reason.....he is not as good pivoting to his weak side. This is why Dion prefers the right side as then when pivoting to the outside it is to his right ( strong side). Randy tried him on the Left side and it was horrible....people blamed his partners but Dion himself played bad as well.

This is my observation as well. Dion likes playing on the right side, but the Leafs, especially Carlyle prefers players playing on their more natural side, which for Phaneuf would be the left side. I would not be surprised if they experiment with Phaneuf on the left side again early in the season given the addition of the two new right side D.

 

[gabeliscious]

Dion plays the Left side for a reason.....he is not as good pivoting to his weak side. This is why Dion prefers the right side as then when pivoting to the outside it is to his right ( strong side). Randy tried him on the Left side and it was horrible....people blamed his partners but Dion himself played bad as well.

maybe try him with grardiner then?

gardiner-phaneuf
robidas-franson
rielly-polak

 

[zeke]

I'd have no problem with this:


Rielly - Phaneuf
Gardiner - Robidas
Percy - Polak/Franson

 

[EastVan]

I'd have no problem with this:


Rielly - Phaneuf
Gardiner - Robidas
Percy - Polak/Franson

Youngsters on the left. Vets on the right.

 

[EastVan]

maybe try him with grardiner then?

gardiner-phaneuf
robidas-franson
rielly-polak

This is a nice mix if Robidas plays the left side OR maybe Franson gets dealt for a LHD who will fit in better with our group.

RHD should be in demand. Isn't there some sort of shortage?

 

[Gary Nylund]

Youngsters on the left. Vets on the right.

Bernier and Reimer: Here I am stuck in the middle with you

 

[Pholus]

This is a nice mix if Robidas plays the left side OR maybe Franson gets dealt for a LHD who will fit in better with our group.

RHD should be in demand. Isn't there some sort of shortage?

Only if they have a reasonable contract. Otherwise you won't get fair value.

 

[leafers]

broken legs aren't exactly recurring injuries. its not a real concern.

and Robidas has built a career on being a big minute PK guy, so I wouldn't worry about his ability there. Last year thanks to his injuries was the first time in years he dipped below elite PK ice time.

Rank of nhl dmen SH ice time per game (min 20gms played)

12-13: 19th
11-12: 27th
10-11: 14th
09-10: 30th


we won't be asking Robidas to play the 24-25mpg he was playing just a few years ago, but getting him 20-22mpg shouldn't be an issue.

its not like we're boston asking 37yr old Chara to play 25mpg, or montreal asking 36yr old markov to play 25mpg, but more along the lines of these guys:

COL J.Hejda (36): 22:20
NJ M.Zidlicky (37): 21:39
SJS D.Boyle (38): 21:17
PHI M.Streit (37): 20:39
LA W.Mitchell (37): 20:20
PHI K.Timonen (39): 20:20
NJD B.Salvador (28): 20:18

The player(s) Nonis is expecting to step up and cover for Gunnar are Gardiner and Rielly, and not Robidas.

 

[TheLeafsBro]

JAKE "DUNCAN KEITH" GARDINER BABY!

No but seriously, what if the Jake-Dion pairing doesn't work? R.I.P. 2014-15 season. Honestly surprised how much management is gambling on Gardiner, I love the kid, he's one of my fav players on the team but wow, with Gunnarsson at least you know you were getting -- a steady stay-at-home dman and there's not a chance Rielly is ready for the top pairing so don't even suggest it.

Lets see Gardiner handle all those D-zone faceoffs with Phaneuf. Should be interesting to watch grab the popcorn.

 

[Cor]

Friedman on the radio essentially said there were rumors last season of the Leafs looking at dealing Gardiner, and Carlyle went to Nonis and told him not too because he is still young and it's too soon, and then the Leafs decided not to trade him.

So, if it wasn't for Carlyle, Gardiner could have been traded.

 

[egd27]

Friedman on the radio essentially said there were rumors last season of the Leafs looking at dealing Gardiner, and Carlyle went to Nonis and told him not too because he is still young and it's too soon, and then the Leafs decided not to trade him.

So, if it wasn't for Carlyle, Gardiner could have been traded.

But I read on here that Carlyle hates Gardiner and was deliberately trying to ruin him. Is it possible that wasn't true?

 

[EastVan]

Carlyle thinks you don't really know what you have in a dman until he has played 300 games.

 

[HarrisonFord]

Friedman on the radio essentially said there were rumors last season of the Leafs looking at dealing Gardiner, and Carlyle went to Nonis and told him not too because he is still young and it's too soon, and then the Leafs decided not to trade him.

So, if it wasn't for Carlyle, Gardiner could have been traded.

One of the few things Randy did well. Good that Nonis listened to him on it too