Reality finally!!!!!!

Why would you sign Gardiner? Everyone knows they can't afford him, even if they could convince him to take a huge discount, which he won't. Some team will pay him 7 mill in free agency lol

And some are very team friendly

Hardly reality. 99% of reasonable fans know Gardiner isn't going to be a Leaf. But if Marner and Matthews deserve such star money...someone and Gardiner will have to go. I'm betting either Nylander or Kadri.

How do guys who haven't been able to crack an NHL lineup get over a million dollars? What has Trevor Moore done to deserve that contract? How does Kapanen get 5 years at that cap hit? Same with Johnsson.

Here is the thing, the stars will get their money and everyone else will have to take short term small deals or get traded. Try to get Kap for 1 year under 2 as a show me deal sort of stuff. Also Gardiner is as good as gone. He isn't worth what it will cost to bring him back.

Dermott tops Gardiner on the depth chart next year. Sandin probably makes the team out of camp. Rosen is an AHL player, he does not deserve over a mill. Oz is solid but no way is he worth 2, let him walk, I would rather take my luck with Lili. Moore is an AHL player and does not deserve over a mill as well. This is not reality. Its how to damn yourself to cap hell. Really bad signings here. The point of internal depth is to avoid these silly moves.

Gardiner and Brown are gone

I agree that Gardiner, Hainsy and Brown will be gone. Even then though it will tight for them. But doable.