Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake Gardiner is one of those rare players that fans usually either rally around or want to run out of town on the next train. Gardiner has tantalizing skill when he's at his best—or consistent brain cramps when he's at his worst.
The former first-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks is certainly talented enough to be a top-four NHL defender. In fact, paired with a reliable stay-at-home partner, he might even be a top-pairing defender in time. The key is "in time."
While it may seem like Gardiner is unlikely to improve further, Leafs fans should remain patient with the Minnetonka, Minnesota, native. Let's take a look at the three best reasons why the Leafs should retain Jake Gardiner for the foreseeable future.
1. Gardiner is Young and Can Improve
While Gardiner seems like a young veteran in some ways because he's played parts of four seasons with the Leafs, he's still played just 246 NHL games. That's just over three full NHL seasons. On top of this, he played just 57 AHL games. He is not a seasoned pro with much of his development at the NHL ...
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Article written by James Onusko
3 Best Reasons the Toronto Maple Leafs Should Retain Jake Gardiner
May 1st, 2015 by James Onusko Leave a reply »
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