I think many people's frustration with Jake (mine especially) is you just don't know which one is going to show up on a given night. When he's on, he's a smooth, fast skating offensive D who can back the other team off allowing great zone entry. Good passer too, (for the most part). Those GD stretch passes drive me nuts, but that's more on the system than on him.
At this point, I'd consider trading him in a hockey deal prior to the deadline if one presents itself.
I would move Gardiner for someone who can play better defensively, or someone with a bigtime shot (the lack of which has made our PP and zone control predictable and stale.) I'd even bundle a pick with him for a guy who could do both of those things well.
Who ever this player is must also be effective at making simple zone exit passes. A quality which is not rare in the NHL but that we've severed lacked for too damn long.
People hate to hear it, but like with JVR and Bozak there is an element of addition by subtraction with non-competitive, defensive liabilities like Gards.