Gardiner is healthy to play no?

Likely back surgery (third in as many years) probably means LTIR and possible retirement.

Sad to see a good career come to an end

I agree, he was a good player despite a lot of (IMO unjustified) criticism.

Dude, I get the appeal, but that Tkachuk deal looks pretty tough a few years down the line. Suzuki + Jarvis + a 1st could be a real tough pill to swallow. Plus Bokk is hardly a bum.

That’s a solid offer - I don’t think you need to include bokk.

Flames very very easily decline , they will not be trading tkachuk for picks and prospects. They just brought sutter out of retirement so he could win a cup with Calgary, they aren’t going to rebuild.

The Flames are probably one of my least-watched teams. Can you explain why you say that deal is gonna look rough a couple of years down the line? Do you think his play is going to take a step back or is it because it doesn't give us much space to resign Necas, Trocheck, Aho, Svech?

I expect Trocheck to probably be sign-and-traded in a similar way that they might handle Hamilton if he doesn't extend. To me, Necas is the future at 2nd line center. Also, the Tkachuk deal above is for 8 years in the prime of his career. The cap likely goes up when Aho and Svech both need to be paid, so the only concern would be Necas, and he'd probably get bridged like Svech will.

I'm not saying it wouldn't be a tough pill. I love Jarvis and Suzuki, and Bokk also looked very good in his first AHL season after a slow start. The thing is that Carolina is the only contending club out there that realistically can put a prospect package for Tkachuk without mortgaging their future. Their farm is truly that deep with potential role-player talent.

I think he's an excellent player, with a valuable skillset, but I think in a few years you'd rather have what what's being given up. Not a slight on him, but a reflection on how much I like that package. I think Suzuki is really good, and I think Jarvis has an insanely high ceiling. I think Canes fans are crazy to want to trade him, even if he's a couple years away

I don't want to trade Jarvis. I want to get Matt Tkachuk. Huge difference. Maybe the purest example of "give-to-get" out there.

Sure. I'm just saying the Canes would regret it. If you disagree that's fair.

I like Niederreiter but I wouldn't trade a 1st for him. Likely a second and a mid tier prospect.