How about Jake Gardiner?

[rufio.85]

The new front office in Toronto will emphasize advanced stats which should help Gardiner's numbers in theory.
Dobber has him at a very high pace next season... What are your projections short-term for him?
Does he get a bump this year or the overabundance of offensive dmen (Phaneuf, Rielly, Franson) will prevent him from doing so?
Thanks guys, especially those who have watched him a lot the past season.

[kovalchuk17]

Worth the gamble but not at a high price.

[CHunter]

I see him as a 40-45pts D this year.....

[havanablast21]

I think with the push of Phaneuf and Franson... Gardiner's production may suffer slightly unless management actually joins Gardiner and Rielly together all season as a direct counter to the aforementioned.

Gardiner 30-35... On pace with Rielly IMO.

[theIceWookie]

He played at an 18 goal, 52 point, 175 shot, 89 hit, 104 block, 14 PPP pace over the final 22 games of the season last year while having better plus/minus numbers than any Leaf not named Bodie, Orr, McClaren during that quarter of the season. It would be mighty interesting to see his PDO numbers and Corsi numbers during this portion, and although his shooting percentage was a little higher than his career average (10.6 percent compared to 7.5 percent), it wasn't sky high.

Last season he played more minutes than any other defender not named Phaneuf, he had better Corsi and Corsi rel numbers than any other Leaf player, he had better GA per 60 than any Leaf not named McClement, Ashton, Bodie or Orr (which is VERRRY intriguing since he's usually considered a defensive liablity which is sort of a fallacy), he had a postivie def/off zone finish number (from 43-47 percent) he averaged 2 minutes and 16 seconds in PP time, behind only Phaneuf (3:17) and Franson (2:54), and had the same number of PPP as Phaneuf (11).

I think Gardiner is in line for a very surprising season. I think he could easily hit 40 points and 45 points is not out of the question IMO.

[havanablast21]

Here's hoping. I still think too many guys are over projected. Gardiner IMO is one of them so long as Phaneuf a franson are around.

[Jordyr77]

I'm always curious how things will play out with him and Rielly in the future. Can both really reach their full potential biting into each others ice time??

[rainydrinkwater]

I think Gardiner can get 37-43 pts this year if he is leaned on for the PP more than Franson is. I also think that Rielly will eventually take the roll of the teams #1 option for offense.

[theIceWookie]

I'm always curious how things will play out with him and Rielly in the future. Can both really reach their full potential biting into each others ice time??

I think the end of last season could give you a look into that. Carlyle let the two of them go nuts together, giving them a lot of time on the ice with each other.

In a year or two you could see the two of them on PP1 and getting a lot of ES time together. I don't think the two of them have to block each other. Just depends on whoever is coaching them and their willingness to play them together.