Yup, good defenseman. People argue about how good he is exactly (which is true for every player) but of course he is a good player so the addition by subtraction idea here is ridiculous IMO. And I definitely agree with sign or trade him, gotta manage those assets.
I would hope the people who say move him (I'm one of them) believe the goal is to move him and replace him, not just remove him and go with 4 skaters.
I'd have a hard time supporting a group that suggests you remove him but don't replace him? Now this might not be politically correct but I'd have to suggest removing Gardiner but not replacing him is pretty dense. Who in their right mind thinks playing 1/3 the game with only 4 skaters on the ice makes any sense?
I'm for moving Gardiner, but my goal would be to replace him with a better defender. I suspect their are few better offensive players in the league, so I'd target a defender that doesn't have his offensive skills, but has decent offensive skills and stronger defensive skills. At Gardiner's age I don't think he's going to get better defensively. I could be wrong, maybe he shows up with something to prove and he adds a little meanness to his repertoire and decides he's going to own his side of the d-zone and makes everyone pay for trespassing on his side of the ice. I'm not suggesting he starts running guys, but confronting them, using his body. It could happen, then I'd be fine signing him 6-7 years.
Perhaps Gardiner isn't the problem at all though? Perhaps he's the question, and the answer is the rest of the team?
Perhaps Babcock is the problem? Perhaps the entire system that Babcock employs makes the d-zone look like a free for all. Maybe without a Lidstrom (or Olympic team) Babcock's system is trash? Leafs don't have a Lidstrom, unless his name is yet-to-be-determined, and Babcock's system will miraculously become a good system when he has a Norris level defender cleaning up?
Perhaps running with the same defense this year will have completely different results? Perhaps it was Polak who was the problem, and with Polak gone everyone else will immediately be better. I can see it now, no more brainfarts from any of the defenders. No more getting out of position or bobbling the puck at the opposition blue-line. No more trading scoring chances while on the PP.
Polak was such a difference maker, such a team wide influence top to bottom.
If they move Gardiner, I suspect they'll replace him. I have faith management will do the right thing and perhaps I'll see another Cup. Maybe not.
