Fantastic contract. Gards is a textbook Corsi boy.
Under market value in AAV and for only 4 years (the end of his prime)?!?!

I've always had a soft spot for the Canes but this just reinforces it. Fantastic work.
Don't believe the haters on Gards. His offense is great and his defence (while he doesn't add much in particular) is not a liability. You are going to love him.

Also what idiot said this was a bad deal?

It was Faulk letting clappers loose from the edge of the circle, Dougie is a better PP guy than Gardiner anyway

I think Brodeur said that once...

I hate Marner for being a greedy f*** and Kyle Dubas for the Leafs not taking this contract immediately!!!! F***!!!!!!!!!

Called it. Gardiner got 100k less than I expected but the contract length is the same.

Seattle will love it when it's their turn to pick from CAR

Looks like he wanted to go to a small market....... like, realllllyyyyy small.

He probably would have signed with the leafs if marner had signed. Dubas choosing Ceci > Gardiner - 0.45 mil in cap space???

LOL you think Gardiner is going to stop people from scoring? As a Bruins fan I'm sad we can't exploit is piss poor defense more frequently.

"we"

didn't know you were a member of the bruins

You know, when the Poll asks "Was this a good signing?" is it from the perspective of the team or the player?

Absolute highway robbery for the team. Utter trash for the player. Fire your agent, Jake.

BAHAHA that's really where you want to take it? Don't try and defend Gardiner and his defense, nope just go to the old and pathetic "didn't know you played for the team" comment.

Faulk in a package to WPG for Laine? Including Svechnikov?

I thought he was looking for $6M+? What happened? Injury concerns? TOR could've kept him this whole time. Myers signed for $6M for 6 years, right? WTF...This seems too good to be true for Carolina.

Yeah, you really have to wonder why there was such a huge gap between what he was asking for and what teams were offering. Media was saying minimum of 6X6.

Very interesting! But I think CAR would need to throw in a conditional draft pick. Laine is a potential perennial Rocket Richard Trophy winner. Let's say, for the sake of the argument, CAR sends WPG a 1st rounder if Laine scores 40+ goals...or something along those lines.

He's gonna see much more favorable defensive matchups w/ the Canes. He was often left unprotected w/ the Leafs. CAR is much, much better defensively than TOR.

When was the last time Carolina spent to the cap ceiling? Highest payroll in team history! OTT take note: This is how you manage a small market hockey team in a cap league! Build through the draft and trades and add a couple of well timed UFA's when ready to compete. Well done.

Honestly (and I'll get crucified for this because it goes against the popular opinion)...the CAR defense outside of Slavin & Pesce is vastly overrated.

They need Haydn Fleury to start producing. He was a top 10 pick a few years back and he's been a big disappointment so far. They scored big w/ Slavin by signing him long term for at least $2M under fair market value. I don't disagree entirely, but they're a pretty solid defensive team top to bottom. Their forwards are mostly responsible defensive players.

sorry i'm not getting all hot and bothered over a joke like you are

IDK if I'd say "defensively" lol. Again Gardiner isn't good in his own end. I don't think Hamilton is good in his own end and goes invisible during the playoffs (when it matters). Faulk (if he stays around) is another guy that isn't very good in his own end. So half the defense is suspect in their own end. Put it this way, if the playoffs started today and the team I cheer for (can't say "my team" or @mondo will ask me when I purchased it) was going up against CAR....I'm not wondering how were going to beat the defense and their goaltending sure as hell isn't going to bail them out.

I do believe they're a playoff team right now. They should be top 4 in the Metro with their current roster. I think their goaltending is a little suspect and I also don't trust the aforementioned D's you discussed. But they're a solid hockey team.

upset? I'm legit laughing at my desk right now as I read your replies

Oh sure a solid hockey team and probably a playoff team, but that's a different discussion. People are saying this d-core is "legendary" and the "best d-core in the league" and I just don't see it.