Jake Gardiner appreciation thread

[My Special Purpose]

• He's on a one-game scoring streak
• He was not a minus in his last game (Jaccob Slavin was)
• He has nice blue eyes

Discuss.

Click to read more...

 

[Navin R Slavin]

He's better at hockey than I am.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

He’s not nearly as bad as everyone says he is.

He’s a good enough puck mover that if his legs are permanently worse than before he is probably still an effective player.

He gave us a major discount.

 

[FreshSeabass]

Can we downgrade him to "slightly less worthless POS" ?

 

[Hockey Talker29]

Would the Canes hypothetically deal Gardiner to the Leafs for Ceci to get rid of Jake's contract, given how poorly his results are?

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

Would the Canes hypothetically deal Gardiner to the Leafs for Ceci to get rid of Jake's contract, given how poorly his results are?

Wow good adherence to the topic of the thread.

 

[DaveG]

He's definitely still better than Kaberle was and has had some really nice defensive plays the last couple games.

 

[MinJaBen]

I appreciate that his AAV on his contract is not more than it is.

 

[HisIceness]

Jake seems to like it here. Kaberle was only here because his brother was a part of the 2006 team.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Jake seems to like it here. Kaberle was only here because his brother was a part of the 2006 team.

Yes, the fanbase is significantly more quiet and less death-threaty than where he came from. Of course he loves it here.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

I will appreciate him when he sits for a while. The team will be better.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

I will appreciate him when he sits for a while. The team will be better.

Uh, no.

 

[HisIceness]

Yes, the fanbase is significantly more quiet and less death-threaty than where he came from. Of course he loves it here.

Should we challenge him to fights behind Bojangles after a bad game? Discuss.

 

[Hockey Talker29]

Wow good adherence to the topic of the thread.

I'm appreciating him, as a Leafs fan who wants him back.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

I'm appreciating him, as a Leafs fan who wants him back.

For all of his occasional brainfarts, I still think he's a really good player. He just needs to adjust of how he's being paired ATM.

 

[DougieSmash]

I like Gardy. He will be fine.

 

[spockBokk]

In 3 months time, I bet he’s playing close to 20mins a night and has a much better +/-. At this point last season, wasn’t Slavin like a -8 or 9?

Gardiner just needs a consistent partner...be it TVR, Fleury or eventually/preferably Pesce. Hopefully the confidence RBA has put in him by continuing to play him and the mostly good performances from him lately will get him back on track.

Hell, it might be time to put him on the 1st PP unit with Hamilton to try to spark it back into being worth a crap.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

In 3 months time, I bet he’s playing close to 20mins a night and has a much better +/-. At this point last season, wasn’t Slavin like a -8 or 9?

Gardiner just needs a consistent partner...be it TVR, Fleury or eventually/preferably Pesce. Hopefully the confidence RBA has put in him by continuing to play him and the mostly good performances from him lately will get him back on track.

Hell, it might be time to put him on the 1st PP unit with Hamilton to try to spark it back into being worth a crap.

The only reason Gardiner isn't being paired with Pesce is because Eddy and Pesce is statistically one of the better pairings in the NHL, and at least with a small sample size, Eddy does not pair well with TVR. I don't think he's ever been paired with Fleury. As Sean Tierney pointed out, our current arrangement gives us two great pairings and a fun pair in Gardiner-Fleury. Winnipeg or Nashville could probably use TVR right about now, though Winnipeg is probably still waiting to see what Buff does.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I'm appreciating him, as a Leafs fan who wants him back.

If you appreciate him, then you’d offer a lot more than Ceci.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

If you appreciate him, then you’d offer a lot more than Ceci.

Some, ahem, more impatient fans like my dad would take that deal running away. That is why they are not GMs.

 

[MinJaBen]

The only reason Gardiner isn't being paired with Pesce is because Eddy and Pesce is statistically one of the better pairings in the NHL...

The only reason....well, I guess it's not a bad reason.

 

[My Special Purpose]

Would the Canes hypothetically deal Gardiner to the Leafs for Ceci to get rid of Jake's contract, given how poorly his results are?

I thought Ceci has been great for you guys. :sarcasm

Hell, it might be time to put him on the 1st PP unit with Hamilton to try to spark it back into being worth a crap.

I do think it's time to get creative with the power play units. Neither has been very good lately with Haula and Necas out. Obviously, we go back to Haula, Dzingel, Hamilton, Svech, Turbo when that group is healthy, but the whole idea of two units when two of your best offensive players are out is kinda silly. Combine 'em into one and see what happens.

As for Gardiner on the PP, I think his issue is the same as Aho's, they're both out there thinking that they have all day and by the time they do something, it's telegraphed. The reason Hamilton-Svech-Turbo are clicking is because they're moving the puck quickly and crisply. Aho, Gards and a few others are over-handling it, IMO.

 

[CandyCanes]

He really does have beautiful blue eyes.

 

[hblueridgegal]

I was so happy for him when he scored. Love a good comeback story.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

To show how Gardiner is still a very positive impact player even with a few brain-farts and unlucky breaks, look at just how amazing Toronto's defense is without him. They truly don't miss him one bit; Cody Ceci does everything that Gardiner does, except he's right-handed!

Link: Toronto Maple Leafs Cody Ceci Has Historically Awful Game