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NHL Rumors: 5 best fits for Jake Gardiner in NHL free agency

By Simon Vacca

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 20: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner #51 returns to the locker room at an NHL game against the Florida Panthers at the Scotiabank Arena on December 20, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 20: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner #51 returns to the locker room at an NHL game against the Florida Panthers at the Scotiabank Arena on December 20, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Defender Jake Gardiner of the Toronto Maple Leafs has officially hit the 2019 NHL free agency market. Which team should he sign with?

Surely the most polarizing player among Leafs Nation, Jake Gardiner has come a long way during the course of his tenure as a member of the blue and white.

Acquired on February 9, 2011 from the Anaheim Ducks in a trade that saw the Buds swap defender Francois Beauchemin for Gardiner, Joffrey Lupul and a conditional fourth-round draft pick in 2013, No. 51 played much of the 2011-12 season with the Maple Leafs, scoring 7 goals and 30 points in 75 games. He has since become one of the sport’s better second-pairing defenders, amassing increasingly favorable totals over the years:

  • 2011-12 — 75 GP, 7 G, 23 A, 30 PTS
  • 2012-13 — 12 GP, 0 G, 4 A, 4 PTS
  • 2013-14 — 80 GP, 10 G, 21 A, 31 PTS
  • 2014-15 — 79 GP, 4 G, 20 A, 24 PTS
  • 2015-16 — 79 GP, 7 G, 24 A, 31 PTS
  • 2016-17 — 82 GP, 9 G, 34 A, 43 PTS
  • 2017-18 — 82 GP, 5 G, 47 A, 52 PTS
  • 2018-19 — 62 GP, 3 G, 27 A, 30 PTS

Nevertheless, the question of Gardiner’s future looms larger than ever. As the best free agent defender among this year’s class, it is surprising that Gardiner has not yet found a new home — a prospect that is likely amplified by the lack of clarity surrounding the extent of the 28-year-old’s back problems.

Here are five potential teams that he could sign with over the days ahead.

TORONTO, ON – APRIL 17: Jake Gardiner #51 of the Toronto Maple Leafs heads to the locker room before facing the Boston Bruins during Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Scotiabank Arena on April 17, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – APRIL 17: Jake Gardiner #51 of the Toronto Maple Leafs heads to the locker room before facing the Boston Bruins during Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Scotiabank Arena on April 17, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /

5. Toronto Maple Leafs

Current defensive core: Morgan Rielly, Jake Muzzin, Tyson Barrie, Travis Dermott, Ben Harpur, Martin Marincin, Kevin Gravel, Justin Holl, Cody Ceci

Why a move makes sense: The Maple Leafs are in no position to make another head-turning deal — with the sole exception being a move that provides a degree of resolution on the future of Mitch Marner. They have already acquired an upgrade on the back end over Gardiner in the form of 27-year-old, right-shot defender Tyson Barrie and still need to negotiate contracts with Cody Ceci and Alexander Kerfoot in the not-so-distant future.

The only way that Toronto could actually land Gardiner’s services is if the high-risk, high-reward blue liner embraces a team-friendly deal, which is not necessarily outside of the realm of possibility, but still a stretch to say the least. Gardiner is in a position to make a large sum of money, and while it is no secret that the defenseman would love to remain a Maple Leaf, the Buds are just too cap-strapped to offer him a substantial dollar amount.

If GM Kyle Dubas opts to remove a player like Cody Ceci, a Gardiner signing becomes somewhat possible…but the chances of all of the correct cards falling into place remain quite slim.

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