Jake Gardiner is interesting. He’s a talented offensive defenceman with some clear struggles defensively. I find it hard to believe that any team interested in a D man hasn’t reached out to him.
Dubas has dropped hints (allegedly...I didn’t see/hear them, but others have mentioned it) about still hoping to bring him back. Maybe he’s part of the Leafs plan if they end up moving on from Marner somehow? Maybe the Ceci contract/arbitration confusion has something to do with it? (Ceci arbitration award gets walked away from, and the Leafs sign Gardiner with that 4.5 plus whatever is left after Marner gets settled?) to be honest, even as a Leafs fan, I can’t see him choosing to come back to Toronto after the way he’s blamed for everything.
If Gardiner was asking the world, I feel like we’d know that from the insiders. Perhaps he’s looking for the best fit, and he’s not all about the pay day...
I can’t wait to see what he signs for, and where. I’m sure it’ll be followed with plenty of “worst contract of the offseason” claims from Leafs fans, and then a refreshingly strong season from Jake.
