Jake Gardiner??

[phillyeaglesman]

Not sure how many of you saw the tweet from last night, but Gardiner's agent basically started a "get my client out of town" campaign.

Hes been down in the minors essentially all year. He was dealing with what were rumored to be concussion issues during the lockout, so the Leafs didnt want to rush him up. However he was called up, but he struggled in two games so he was sent back down and hasnt seen the NHL since.

In 40 games in the AHL, he is a -3, but has 10 goals and 20 assists. Hes that fast, puck moving defenseman the Flyers have been looking for (and hes only 22).

His teammate John Michael Liles has been a healthy scratch the past 12 games and would cost considerably less. I just wonder if it is a pipedream to think Gardiner could be had at this point, given that hes been stuck in the AHL all year and now that his agent has done this stupid thing.

Thoughts on who we might have to give up to grab him?

[fanofphilly]

talked about this a while ago....I dont think we have the ammunition without losing someone SUBSTANTIAL that we all dont want to lose (ala Giroux / Simmonds / Voracek)

We have the power to get one of a goalie or a dman......our choice

I think personally right now im on the ship Bryz out of town bus, unless he drastically starts standing on his head. Minus 3 weeks in March last year he has been SUB PAR at BEST. We need a goaltender of his payscale to STEAL games. We need to make a trade for a young up and coming, or at least take that gamble.

[25YrsNcounting]

talked about this a while ago....I dont think we have the ammunition without losing someone SUBSTANTIAL that we all dont want to lose (ala Giroux / Simmonds / Voracek)

We have the power to get one of a goalie or a dman......our choice

I think personally right now im on the ship Bryz out of town bus, unless he drastically starts standing on his head. Minus 3 weeks in March last year he has been SUB PAR at BEST. We need a goaltender of his payscale to STEAL games. We need to make a trade for a young up and coming, or at least take that gamble.

Giroux & Voracek are untouchables at this point. Voracek only gets moved if it's for a sure fire franchise dman and even then we'd be adding big time to him in a trade and even then he'd most likely not be the centerpiece. They certainly won't get moved for Gardiner. I like Gardiner because we need a PMD in the worst way but he's certainly not that valuable.

IMO, Bryz has zero value in a trade. Nobody is going to eat that contract. If anything, he'll be amnestied after this year.

For young goalies I really think they should try for Jon Bernier from LA. We already have a great trade relationship with them and their future in net is set with Quick. I think he could be had for fairly cheap.

If I'm Homer, I'm going out there and swinging for the fences. Call Phoenix about Ekman-Larsson or St. Louis about Alex Pietrangelo. This team needs a young true potential franchise dman. Both of those guys would cost us Coots++ but they're worth it.

[StryderSox]

talked about this a while ago....I dont think we have the ammunition without losing someone SUBSTANTIAL that we all dont want to lose (ala Giroux / Simmonds / Voracek)

We have the power to get one of a goalie or a dman......our choice

I think personally right now im on the ship Bryz out of town bus, unless he drastically starts standing on his head. Minus 3 weeks in March last year he has been SUB PAR at BEST. We need a goaltender of his payscale to STEAL games. We need to make a trade for a young up and coming, or at least take that gamble.

I normally agree with you but have to say I couldn't disagree more this time around. I can agree that Bryzgalov has never really displayed the talent we thought we were getting when we signed him and he will most likely never live up to his contract. That being said in order to get rid of him we would need to find a sucker to take him or use amnesty on him in the offseason. If we amnesty him in the offseason there are a number of available options that dont cost us anything but cap space.

Goaltenders scheduled to hit UFA:
Niklas Backstrom
Tim Thomas
Jimmy Howard
Mike Smith

If we chose to go the ******* route you can potentially add Tukka Rask, Jacob Markstrom and our buddy Sergei Bobrovski to that list.

The list of available UFA defenseman on the other hand is not so hot:

Defenseman scheduled to hit UFA:

Lubmoir Visnovsky
Sergei Gonchar
Mark Streit
Marik Zidlicky
Ryan Whitney

There are a number of RFA possibilities including Pieterangelo, Shattenkirk, Bogosian, Ekman-Larsson, Runblad and McDonagh.

Since successfully submitting an offer sheet for an RFA is highly unlikely and even less likely to be successful that leaves us with the UFAs or trying to make a trade for an RFA that might be hard to sign.

I think the best option here is to explore ways to potentially get rid of Bryzgalov (will probably come down to amnesty) and then see about going after Backstrom or Howard if they become available at UFA. That will leave us with all of our young assets for a defenseman and as much as I hate to admit it...... it may be time to start considering the potential of whether Couturier can get us a franchise puck moving defenseman in a trade.

[StryderSox]

Giroux & Voracek are untouchables at this point. Voracek only gets moved if it's for a sure fire franchise dman and even then we'd be adding big time to him in a trade and even then he'd most likely not be the centerpiece. They certainly won't get moved for Gardiner. I like Gardiner because we need a PMD in the worst way but he's certainly not that valuable.

IMO, Bryz has zero value in a trade. Nobody is going to eat that contract. If anything, he'll be amnestied after this year.

For young goalies I really think they should try for Jon Bernier from LA. We already have a great trade relationship with them and their future in net is set with Quick. I think he could be had for fairly cheap.

If I'm Homer, I'm going out there and swinging for the fences. Call Phoenix about Ekman-Larsson or St. Louis about Alex Pietrangelo. This team needs a young true potential franchise dman. Both of those guys would cost us Coots++ but they're worth it.

I like this plan and personally think it is time that we cut the love affair with having to have both Schenn and Couts for the future of the team. Giroux is the franchise and was just made captain so there is almost zero possibility of him being moved. Voracek just signed a big extension and unless Homer has some reason to believe this year is a fluke there is no way him he should be moved either. Couturier is really the only asset that make sense for us to move and has a high enough trade value to be the centerpiece of a move that brings in a franchise defenseman. We have the depth and youth at center in Giroux, Schenn and Laughton that allows us to move Couts if it returns the guy we need to tighten up the back end for years to come.

[25YrsNcounting]

I like this plan and personally think it is time that we cut the love affair with having to have both Schenn and Couts for the future of the team. Giroux is the franchise and was just made captain so there is almost zero possibility of him being moved. Voracek just signed a big extension and unless Homer has some reason to believe this year is a fluke there is no way him he should be moved either. Couturier is really the only asset that make sense for us to move and has a high enough trade value to be the centerpiece of a move that brings in a franchise defenseman. We have the depth and youth at center in Giroux, Schenn and Laughton that allows us to move Couts if it returns the guy we need to tighten up the back end for years to come.

I don't quite get it either. I mean we have our future & present #1 center in G and Schenn looks like he'll be a top tier #2. IMO, you win cups with guys like both Schenns. They're heart and soul players with actual skill. While they may not be superstars they're certainly key components to this team.

The only thing that worries me with moving Coots is his defense. However, if he's moved for a franchise dman it'll lessen the blow in that department.

[Ace23]

I don't quite get it either. I mean we have our future & present #1 center in G and Schenn looks like he'll be a top tier #2. IMO, you win cups with guys like both Schenns. They're heart and soul players with actual skill. While they may not be superstars they're certainly key components to this team.

The only thing that worries me with moving Coots is his defense. However, if he's moved for a franchise dman it'll lessen the blow in that department.

If we can move Couturier to a place like PHX, we might be able to get back a guy like Hanzal as a throw-in. Big, defensive center with a very limited offensive upside.

[phillyeaglesman]

So im guessing that by none of you touching the subject that none of you believe jake gardiner can be had lol

[25YrsNcounting]

If we can move Couturier to a place like PHX, we might be able to get back a guy like Hanzal as a throw-in. Big, defensive center with a very limited offensive upside.

I'd be intrigued with that.

[25YrsNcounting]

So im guessing that by none of you touching the subject that none of you believe jake gardiner can be had lol

He could absolutely be had. However, he's certainly not costing us Coots. The only way Coots is getting moved is for a franchise Dman, Gardiner is far from that.

[phillyeaglesman]

He could absolutely be had. However, he's certainly not costing us Coots. The only way Coots is getting moved is for a franchise Dman, Gardiner is far from that.

The idea of moving Couts for him never crossed my mind. Hes not worth that.

But he is the offensive puck moving defenseman this team needs, no?

[Seguin]

If we can move Couturier to a place like PHX, we might be able to get back a guy like Hanzal as a throw-in. Big, defensive center with a very limited offensive upside.

You might be able to get Hanzal, but you won't get him as a throw in. He's a huge part of that team

[StryderSox]

The idea of moving Couts for him never crossed my mind. Hes not worth that.

But he is the offensive puck moving defenseman this team needs, no?

I live in Toronto (although I loath the Leafs and their fanbase almost as much as I loath Pittsburgh) and yes Gardiner can be that offensive puck mover. Its ridiculous that he is still in the AHL. The problem is that the moment we inquire about him the Leafs will immediately request Couts or Braydon Schenn in return. They will also be quick to point out that Gardiner was far more successful in one season then Schenn was in 3 in Toronto and we gave them a former number 2 overall for Schenn.

[Youarewrong]

I am a Bryz defender. I gave him the benefit of the doubt last season, and I said how much better he looked at the beginning to this season. I believe that fact that he has started every game except 2 so far this year, is what is causing his play to drop. But if he starts to get some rest and doesnt improve, then I will be all for giving him the amnesty. However, I would want to wait until the following season when guys like Lundquist, Miller, Hiller, Halak, & Kiprusoff are available.

In the meantime, I wouldn't mind trading for a good defenseman. I think St.Louis is going to end up trading Shattenkirk because they only have 8 forwards and 2 defenseman signed for next year, when the cap goes down. I would be willing to send them Simmonds or Couturier in a deal for him. Maybe Meszaros and Couturier for Shattenkirk... 2 players for almost the cost of resigning 1.

[StryderSox]

I am a Bryz defender. I gave him the benefit of the doubt last season, and I said how much better he looked at the beginning to this season. I believe that fact that he has started every game except 2 so far this year, is what is causing his play to drop. But if he starts to get some rest and doesnt improve, then I will be all for giving him the amnesty. However, I would want to wait until the following season when guys like Lundquist, Miller, Hiller, Halak, & Kiprusoff are available.

In the meantime, I wouldn't mind trading for a good defenseman. I think St.Louis is going to end up trading Shattenkirk because they only have 8 forwards and 2 defenseman signed for next year, when the cap goes down. I would be willing to send them Simmonds or Couturier in a deal for him. Maybe Meszaros and Couturier for Shattenkirk... 2 players for almost the cost of resigning 1.

I would also be willing to do this. Couturier is not a 3rd line center he is a top 6 forward and will eventually need to be paid like one which will prevent us from retaining Giroux, Voracek, Schenn, Simmonds and Couts together anyways. Meszaros is simply too expensive for us to retain with his history of injuries. Moving these two would give St. Louis the asset they are looking for in Couts and would help us free up the space we need to sign Shattenkirk.