Gardiner was far better for this team, although both are rather different type of players.
On the defensive side, Gardiner would have one or two major blunders per game, as in the Carolina game on this past Saturday, however he tends to clean it up in the 3rd period. Gardiner's biggest weakness is he does not hold up to intense playoffs type of forechecking.
On the defensive side, Barrie would have one or two major blunders every two periods of a game usually. Sometimes he cuts it down to one. Barrie's biggest weakness is he does not hold up to any type of forechecking.
On the offensive side, Gardiner put up points, and joined the rush supporting the big play makers on the team, Gardiner had the speed to get into the play.
On the offensive side, Barrie does not join the rush and does not support the rush at all because he's too slow for this team. What Barrie is really good at is reading the offensive plays that develop when there is a cycle and he is always ready at the blueline for the point shot which he has an excellent one.
Notice lately the Leafs generally generate zero offense most of the time? The forecheck only around 5 players do that, the stretch pass was fired when Babcock was fired, and no rush chances because no one is supporting the rush from the back as Rielly is out and Gardiner is gone.
Tonight the Leafs beat the Lightning, which the 4th line doing the forecheck and point shot for a goal, then two power play goals, and a goal off the face off from the puck retrieval skills of Nylander. Nylander was a total take no nonsense mofo' thug tonight.
No rush chances from the breakout, none, zero.
It is kind of dumb, of how this team is told to play and how they are actually scoring.
That's Dubas understanding of the game, and this team.
