Confirmed with Link: Canes Sign Defenseman Jake Gardiner to 4 Year Contract

[AD Skinner]

Pretty sure all wives are Jedi knights. There really isn't any other explanation.

You dont want to sell me death sticks. You want to go home and rethink your life

 

[DougieSmash]

I think we keep Faulk (for deep run; and choose to trade TVR).

Slavin-Pesce
Gardiner-Faulk
Fleury-Hamilton
Sellgren, Bean, Forsling, Priskie, McKeown

 

[moon111]

I've defended Gardiner in the past.
And I'm not stating he's not a great addition to Carolina, in fact, it might be a much better fit for him surrounded by a more defensively-orientated club who can cover his
mistakes. But I think some fans here under appreciate how many times Gardiner has messed up.

I've read some complaints about Justin Faulk....

Gardiner has given away the puck (477 in 489 games) almost the same amount as Justin Faulk (296 in 477 games) and Tim Gleasson (228 in 546 games) combined.

Bret Hedican had 31 giveaways in 48 playoff games for Carolina. Jake Gardiner had 30 giveaways in 19 playoff games.
Opposing teams will on purpose put him into situations to fail and then capitalize on his mistakes.

 

[Svechhammer]

I just keep thinking about how dire things looked for us just 24 months ago. We thought we were all but gone to QC, the team was miserable, potential sales were falling through.

Then Dundon buys the team

Everything since that moment has been a fast track to relevance, faster than probably even be thought possible.

And now we are coming off a run to the ECF where we found a marketable identity, added Dzingel, Haula, and Gardiner, had an amazing draft, bought an additional 1st round pick next year for a 1 year cap hit, resigned the franchise 1C for a ridiculously team friendly deal, are about to break in the likes of Necas and Bean, added Priskie to what was already considered a Top 10 pipeline, and are now a team that as of today is literally over the cap.

Like, 2 years ago NONE of us saw this coming. Not even the most optimistic of us would have seen this. It's astonishing what this franchise has managed to do in the 20 or so months since the sale to Dundon was made official.

 

[super6646]

Slavin-Hamilton
Gardiner-Pesce

I knew picking you guys for 2nd in the metro was smart

 

[Svechhammer]

Slavin-Hamilton
Gardiner-Pesce

I knew picking you guys for 2nd in the metro was smart

Psssh screw second, we setting our sights on the top, baby!

 

[Svechhammer]

I'm also wondering if the RHD that ultimately goes on the block is TVR. He's very solid, much better than some assume. He cannot, however, play his off side very well....not that it matters on this team. However, I could see him being the odd man out. Which would then truly give us a stacked defense that looked something like:

Slavin/Hamilton
Gardiner/Pesce
Fleury/Faulk
McKeown

That's a pretty solid group.

I think we keep Faulk (for deep run; and choose to trade TVR).

Slavin-Pesce
Gardiner-Faulk
Fleury-Hamilton
Sellgren, Bean, Forsling, Priskie, McKeown

I actually like this idea. Faulk as an everyday 3rd pairing defender would be a silly advantage to have, and if we can make it work, do it. And we would probably have Priskie or Bean available next year if we end up losing him to UFA, or if one of the younger guys are ready this year, he could be a valuable midseason trade chip.

 

[zman77]

 

[The Faulker 27]

There are some that are still questioning every move of this new regime. I guess after making it to the ECF, and making a LOT of legitimate moves in the off season, only a SC appearance will convince them that this FO is legit AF.

 

[HisIceness]

Wow! I don't know how long this has been in the works for but this makes the de Haan trade a lot more bearable. Also likely speeds up the inevitable Faulk trade.

This franchise has been on a role the last two off seasons, actually 3 if you go back to 2017.

2017: Williams returns as a UFA, Slavin and Pesce sign their team-friendly deals
2018: Hamilton/Ferland are brought in via trade, CDH signs
2019: Dzingle signs as a UFA, Aho gets his deal done early thanks to Montreal, Gardiner signs

 

[dogbazinho]

I like the deal quite a bit. Pesce can shelter Gardiner and we can put him on PP1.

 

[Phil120362]

I think we keep Faulk (for deep run; and choose to trade TVR).

Slavin-Pesce
Gardiner-Faulk
Fleury-Hamilton
Sellgren, Bean, Forsling, Priskie, McKeown

So,are you gonna trade for Laine?

 

[My Special Purpose]

I just don't think the team will put itself in that salary cap position with a Laine acquisition....between Necas and Svech, I believe the front office sees a few more "affordable" years at nearly the same production (combined, of course).

My guess is if Faulk would be moved to Winnipeg, the return would be a pick plus something like Jack Roslovic. He's a 22 yr. old, right shot center/RW who definitely has some offensive upside. And, he's still waiver exempt.

My guess is if Faulk is moved out, we're taking little to no salary back.

Also, I think the team is quite comfortable with Reimer penciled in as our 1B or #2 goalie. There was probably some thought of moving him earlier, but he's a pretty good option behind Mrazek, given that we don't have 100% surety in Petr's consistency.

You missed the part where I said right at the beginning of my post that I'm not interested in Laine. But others wanted to talk about what it would take, so I tossed something out there. I think it's a bad idea.

Although I disagree on a couple of points. No. 1, we should not expect anything remotely approaching Jack Roslovic for Faulk (think Cliff Pu and a few picks), and No. 2, I disagree completely when it comes to Reimer. Keep in mind, the only reason he's on our team is that he enabled us to get out from under Darling without buying him out. His contract is almost as awful as Darling's. If we can get somebody to take him as part of a package, I say we do it in a heartbeat.

 

[Lempo]

No need for any D coming back to CAR, pls try to grasp that with any future proposals.

Well we keep saying that, but then the team goes and does an acquisation.

 

[My Special Purpose]

So,are you gonna trade for Laine?

I think it's pretty clear there's something big in the works. We're just not going to trade de Haan because we have five top four d-men, then sign Gardiner so that we have five top four d-men again. Plus, there are clearly mega-talented players available and that's like catnip to Dundon.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Although I disagree on a couple of points. No. 1, we should not expect anything remotely approaching Jack Roslovic for Faulk (think Cliff Pu and a few picks), and .

That’s where I’m at. With 1 year left and a 15 team ntc, I’d expect a Skinner like return at best unless it’s part of a bigger deal, which may be the case.

And if there’s not a bigger deal, I’m not sure that they would move him.

 

[Drivebytrucker]

I actually like this idea. Faulk as an everyday 3rd pairing defender would be a silly advantage to have, and if we can make it work, do it. And we would probably have Priskie or Bean available next year if we end up losing him to UFA, or if one of the younger guys are ready this year, he could be a valuable midseason trade chip.

Most top 4 guys dont really play up to their potential when slotted in a 3rd pairing.

Need to the extra minutes to get your legs moving, get comfortable with the puck and such.

 

[LeafChief]

Quite a shrewd move by Waddell.

Gardiner is quite good. Got a bad reputation in Toronto for some untimely mistakes in some important games. It got blown out of proportion. You guys will love him. He skates like a dream.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

I think it's pretty clear there's something big in the works. We're just not going to trade de Haan because we have five top four d-men, then sign Gardiner so that we have five top four d-men again. Plus, there are clearly mega-talented players available and that's like catnip to Dundon.

I'm not sure about that, honestly. I think that Gardiner was simply an opportunity. The rest of the league was freaking out about the RFAs with no time or brains to think about Gardiner, who was an analytics dream of a defenseman just sitting there for the taking. Did the Canes necessarily need more defense? No, but when you're one of the few teams out there that doesn't have any major RFAs to worry about, why not shoot for Gardiner if you can. Hence what happened today. Honestly, if anything happens, my guess is that Faulk or TVR gets traded for a good pick or something. Maybe if the Canes are extra-pumped, they put together a Laine package. We'll see.

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

Has a legitimate source actually linked Carolina to Laine?

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Has a legitimate source actually linked Carolina to Laine?

No, of course not. What I will say, though, is that the Canes, if nothing else, have proven to be opportunists of the highest order. For that reason alone, Laine to Carolina makes sense.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

Has a legitimate source actually linked Carolina to Laine?

Nope. Everyone is jumping to conclusions because they have played together. Much like Puljujarvi.

 

[MinJaBen]

Dom likes the contract value:

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

The contract value is great for Gardiner, particularly considering that the likes of Brandon Tanev got paid $3.5M for 6 YEARS. Cody Ceci is getting $4.5M this year to pylon for the Leafs while Gardiner got away from them

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

No, of course not. What I will say, though, is that the Canes, if nothing else, have proven to be opportunists of the highest order. For that reason alone, Laine to Carolina makes sense.

Where were the opportunists when O'Reilly was available for a package of meh!?