Former Leaf Jake Gardiner on Waivers

[Mr Knies Guy]

Along with Kadri and Kessel, Jake was definitely one of my favourite Leafs player from the Post Sundin era up until the drafting of AM. But I really couldn't get upset of the Leafs' management for not resigning Jake as that injury he suffered during his last season here really seemed to have taken a lot out of his game.

Either way, both underlying numbers and actual goals against numbers has always shown that Jake was one of the better "defensive" Dman during his time here, definitely one of the most underappreciated Leafs player in recent memory.

What stat or excuse is there to account for being extremely dim-witted and soft as butter? Do they have a category to track “playoff games blown as a result of giveaways in your own end”?

 

[123offtheglass]

his injury really tanked him. he should have been a perfect fit in carolina. but he's a shadow of himself.

There was talk like he was going to me the most sought after D over Tyler Myers who got 6mx5

 

[57 Years No Cup]

And I should care what she says why?

Gardiner sucks and has always sucked as a D. Shoulda been a forward.

 

[Menzinger]

Gardiner was great while he was here (one of Burke's better trades). But the Leafs made the right call letting him walk when the time came.

 

[Stand Witness]

Grab Jake and play him as winger

Not sure if you are being sarcastic or not but I just half joked with my dad that we should try and do a trade for him and play him as a 2nd line winger

 

[BrannigansLaw]

Didn’t realize it’s just a cap move

 

[Carltons Cup]

Sign 'em up....

We're all about reclamation projects this year.

 

[NK94]

Gardiner was the Barrie before Barrie. I hope he heals up for them.

 

[7even]

Boston should pick him up as a token of appreciation.

Oof

 

[Stephen]

It’s a cap move it says something about how he’s overpaid and in decline if he can just pass through like that.

 

[Craig Button]

Yet another must sign leaf who was always complete garbage.

God, I remember the morons at TSN that said we would have to sign him for 6-7M.

 

[The Beyonder]

He really wasn't the same since that back injury on his last season as leaf.

 

[Mr Hockey]

God, I remember the morons at TSN that said we would have to sign him for 6-7M.

i could not understand that, it made me question the medias ability to read the game/players, i thought he would get 3-4 aav, a very flawed player with skill

 

[TheProspector]

lol

Guys shitting on Gardiner here are literally the worst fans. This guy was great for us. And has been good in Carolina, too, I hate to tell ya. Just awful puck luck last year. This will save some cap space for the Canes so they can add for their playoff run, and he'll be back putting in work, moving pucks and using his stick to the detriment of their opponents soon.

 

[A1LeafNation]

Sometimes the best moves GMs make are the signings and trades that they don't make.

 

[cannucky]

lol

Guys shitting on Gardiner here are literally the worst fans. This guy was great for us. And has been good in Carolina, too, I hate to tell ya. Just awful puck luck last year. This will save some cap space for the Canes so they can add for their playoff run, and he'll be back putting in work, moving pucks and using his stick to the detriment of their opponents soon.

Exactly and as a point of reference he was awful darned good the night they beat us with our own EBUG .

 

[justashadowof]

When you see these guys who skate so effortlessly you imagine a very long career. Are his chronic injuries really that bad?

Really I imagined that it was money that kept him from re-signing with the team not any anticipation that he wouldn't be able to play. Correct me if I'm wrong, did the Leafs not talk contract with him before he moved on to Carolina? In this case it may have been good fortune to avoid this contract headache.

 

[Mr Hockey]

When you see these guys who skate so effortlessly you imagine a very long career. Are his chronic injuries really that bad?

he has been a 3rd pairing since joining Carolina, i believe he played every game last season

 

[All Mod Cons]

lol

Guys shitting on Gardiner here are literally the worst fans. This guy was great for us. And has been good in Carolina, too, I hate to tell ya. Just awful puck luck last year. This will save some cap space for the Canes so they can add for their playoff run, and he'll be back putting in work, moving pucks and using his stick to the detriment of their opponents soon.

f*** him. Let them enjoy him.

 

[Kazparov]

I feel bad for him .

 

[mapleleaf979]

lol

Guys shitting on Gardiner here are literally the worst fans. This guy was great for us. And has been good in Carolina, too, I hate to tell ya. Just awful puck luck last year. This will save some cap space for the Canes so they can add for their playoff run, and he'll be back putting in work, moving pucks and using his stick to the detriment of their opponents soon.

Gardiner didnt mind having a pond hockey mentality in playoff games. Like he was out with his buddies and didnt give a bleep about smart hockey. Gardiner was an upgrade when Leafs first acquired him, as the Leafs went into the playoffs, Gardiner's consistently poor decision making became a massive issue.

 

[Mr Hockey]

He had huge potential to be an elite player but he just couldn't figure out how to play defence in his own end, he was a dumpster fire in his own end, it was just like playing a forward on the D

 

[Stephen]

From "Free Jake Gardiner" to "Jake Gardiner Free." Time flies.

 

[Leaf Lander]

So where did he land

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Quite the fall:
Hurricanes place veteran defenseman Jake Gardiner on waivers

It is hard to play with only skills ... you need some heart ... you need some courage ... and then injuries and brain farts kick in ... I wonder if anyone gives him a shot as a winger if he can still skate as his hands are pretty good ... but there is ZERO chance he plays defense again... he really never was a defender