Finishing up the examination and grading of the 2011-12 Toronto Maple Leafs blueline, the focus today is on two defenseman who were acquired via trades by GM Brian Burke, both surprised in terms of the success(or lack thereof) in their debut season with the Blue and White.
Jake Gardiner – D: Gardiner was acquired in the deal with Anaheim in February, 2011 along with Joffrey Lupul and a 4th round pick for Francois Beauchemin. After finishing up his junior season at the University of Wisconsin, the 2008 first rounder signed his entry level contract and saw action in 10 games with the Marlies. It was expected that he would need some time in the AHL to become acclimated to the pro game, but the 21 year old dazzled the Leafs coaching staff and management during training camp with his skating ability, vision and patience and made the club.
Gardiner was not babied by Coach Ron Wilson, seeing top four minutes from the very beginning of the season. By the end of the year, he would usually end up first or second behind Dion Phaneuf in ice time. Gardiner suffered from growing pains as any rookie defenseman would; giveaways at inopportune times, getting muscled off the puck by bigger forwards, but improvement in those areas will come in time. He did not score his first NHL goal until nearly the 50 game mark of the regular season and scored seven goals in the second half of the season, finishing second on the team in goals and points by a defenseman.
Grade: A-
Projection: Top four defenseman
Cody Franson – D Franson was acquired in early July along with Matthew Lombardi from the Predators in a salary dump deal for Brett Lebda and Robert Slaney. He was expected to be a top four defenseman, based on his play with defensively-deep Nashville, but he became the main victim of Gardiner making the club, as he was sat out for 14 of the first 18 games by Ron Wilson and on numerous occasions after Randy Carlyle took over.
In spite of the 24 year old’s 6’5” frame, the physical side of the game has never been his strong suit. His aptitude as an offensive defenseman was apparent, as he scored five goals and 16 assists in just 57 games, but his defensive zone play needs work. Only 24 years old, he is an RFA on July 1st and will be looking for a significant increase in his $800,000 salary. With Phaneuf, Gardiner, Gunnarsson and Liles all gifted or adequate offensively, Franson’s skill set would likely fit better with another club.
Grade: C
Projection: Top four defenseman with another NHL club
*******
The Toronto Marlies face the Abbotsford Heat in Game Five of the Calder Cup Western Conference Semi-Finals tonight in B.C., leading the best-of-seven series 3-1 after winning Game Four last night by the score of 3-1.
After Abbotsford opened the scoring on a Hugh Jessiman goal, the Marlies Greg Scott went to work, scoring an even strength goal early in the third, his second on a short-handed breakaway midway through the period and on an empty net in the final minute.
Ben Scrivens made 35 saves for his sixth victory of the postseason.
The Marlies have a chance to close out the series with a victory tonight. The game will be broadcast on LeafsTV and on AM640 at 10pm EST.
If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact” button at the top of the page.
For Those on Twitter:
KINDLE USERS: Please sign up for Maple Leafs Buzz, which includes a free-of-charge 14-day trial and is just 99 cents per month afterwards. For more information
click here.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»