Think the Sabres would like the trade better if Gardiner didn't sign long term. I'm just not a fan of Gardiner long term.

That's more of an insurance thing, so that the leafs don't have to give up more in case he leaves

Gardiner's best years are in front of him. He is a bone head but if the Leafs let him walk, they'll regret it.

Teams aren't afraid to let players walk, but it seems to fatalistic to CapFriendly GMs. I don't think the Leafs are resigning Gardiner, he should be at his peak. Someone will offer Gardiner more than the Leafs want to pay.
And going forward, the Leafs LHD looks fine...even without the Gardiner

I tend to agree with everything you just said but Gardiner is a different animal and quite often, D mature later. If he does move on, Rielly better develop thick skin because he will be the next one people start complaining about. I have been for years.

I think the Leafs will be fine at LHD will Reilly, Dermot, Borgmn or even another any guy in 2019/20. Trouble with Gardiner and I thought he was pretty stellar in 2016/17, he seems to back to old Jake. 60 good games and 22 bad games. Unfortunately he had the game of in three seasons in game 7 this spring. At age 28, I think we have seen the best of Gardiner and of course there is only so many dollars in the cap. Think someone else will love him more than the Leafs.
PS I IMO Babcock destructive line matching was more to blame for the game 7 loss than Gardiner.

Line matching. Ask Vegas if they match lines. They play their way and roll them over the boards, nothing but confidence.

Babcock took the wind right out of the team's sails..

I don't see how Zatisev ( who frankly isn't all too good and signed to a equally bad contract) and a realtively unproven prospect lands you Spurgeon, who is a 2-3 defensemen for the Leafs right away. Also why in the **** would Buffalo who with Dahlin will finally have a solid defence decide to move Risto for Gardiner and a 1st. Gardnier is not as good as some might value him, and he isn't likely to move. Quite frankly a defensemen who cant play defence isn't what the Sabres need, and the first doesn't do much for Buffalo either given that its likely a late pick, Buffalo doesn't need picks they need to start building around its core of Eichel, Dahlin and RISTO.