I do believe Gardiner has told his agent to hold all phone calls until he knows for sure that the Leafs dream is over.

Oh it's not over... question is can he wait the week or two it's going to take to get Ceci and Kerfoot sorted? If he really wants to come back and is okay with a discount (as has been reported), then this could indeed happen.

Barrie will probably end up being a rental (his UFA signing will be 7+ million most likely next summer) so keeping a puck mover like Gardiner (who'll be cheaper than 7 million) would be ideal.

I think this is why Kerfoot was the "throw in" player, because both teams know Barrie is a rental, meanwhile Kadri has 3 good seasons left on his contract.

Wouldn't say Kerfoot was a throw in, he was in the trade to even it up cause Barrie is potentially a rental, the lesson from this trade is that term matters when it applies to quality players, Kadri has it and Barrie doesn't so Kerfoot is the equalizer.

My thoughts exactly! Both Muzzin and Barrie likely walk next summer. Sandin and Liljegren take the 3rd pairing spots and we sign or trade for a vet righty to play beside Gardiner on the 2nd pair. If Dubas is able to pull this off, I will call that man a genius (I've been skeptical until now). And if not, we're still in decent shape I think. Ceci moves to the third pair when Dermott gets back.

Oh, and all this really hinges on Marner being signed in the next couple of weeks too, which likely won't happen and will keep this dream from happening.

Marner's dickhead agent has been known to have his client hold out until before or after pre-season starts or ends. So there is no way Gardiner waits until mid Sept.