I say move him now while he still has value. I'm hoping to hell that Babcock can do something with him, but he's what? 26 now? Soon he'll be UFA and he'll want 5 plus mill a year. No way in hell he's worth that. So get him out while some other GM might be fooled.
- Old Pappy

Gardiner already got his big pay day...now he needs to prove he was worth it.. He better have a good year or he'll be seeing a lot more #FREEJAKE tweets.

Wedgie and Stee once went to a Leaf game almost 2 years ago...

It was like Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage teaming up as the Mega-Powers
- Tee-Dot

"You gotta beat the man to be the man"

I would imagine that 30 teams want to sign him.

Rules dictate he gets an ELC.

What's the downside?

You sign him. If he sucks, bury him.
- Atomic Wedgie

IMO, I think he’s going to need 2-3 years of development; only to become an ok but overpaid player for 3-4 years.

Roster spots and ice time are limited. I’d rather see the leafs spend their limited resources developing players that can provide them with more useful years and better overall value.

"You gotta beat the man to be the man"
- Garnie

That's Ric Flair.

Yup. I really like JvR. He looked much more engaged last year, and played really well until the injury.

I do however contend that a top line D is typically more important to team success than a top line winger. I wouldn't be actively shopping him, but if there's a deal to be had that gets that 1RD then it should be considered.
- lumlums

One of my fave plays he seems to always be doing is when someone flips the puck in the air over his head, and instead of trying to glove it, he tries to high stick it out of the air. Does he not know the rules, that if he actually makes contact, he can't play the puck nor can any of his team mates? What is that? Does anyone ever see the guy interviewed? No? Why? Because he's a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic.

- Old Pappy

Ya, that one always bugs me.

I feel like Gardiner has really good tools and no smarts, where as a player like... maybe...Komarov has all the smarts with okay tools.

And don't get me wrong, love Komarov. Heart, soul, smarts....just not high level talent.

JG is just....."almost" a player. Everything he seems to do is almost.

That's Ric Flair.
- Tee-Dot

Ah (frank), is he a wrestler?

Ya, that one always bugs me.

I feel like Gardiner has really good tools and no smarts, where as a player like... maybe...Komarov has all the smarts with okay tools.

And don't get me wrong, love Komarov. Heart, soul, smarts....just not high level talent.

JG is just....."almost" a player. Everything he seems to do is almost.
- underhill14

Yep, Jake thinks he's still playing College hockey where he could coast around is what it seems like to me...except in the NHL when he coasts they throw him off the puck like a little kid.

We get it, you don't like him. TSN rated all the defense men in the NHL - google it if you wish - he is at number 50. If you only include 6 d-men per team with 30 teams - do the math, he in the top 28% - stats determine these ratings, not emotions.
- winsix

I was wondering about his stats.

Interesting.

Just think it's his smarts then because he has the tools to be awesome but he never seems to get there. IMO.

Yep, Jake thinks he's still playing College hockey where he could coast around is what it seems like to me...except in the NHL when he coasts they throw him off the puck like a little kid.
- Garnie

Yep, just a little more balls and a little more heart and that's the player we want.

We get it, you don't like him. TSN rated all the defense men in the NHL - google it if you wish - he is at number 50. If you only include 6 d-men per team with 30 teams - do the math, he in the top 28% - stats determine these ratings, not emotions.
- winsix

Which stats are these? Same stats that show Franson as a top pairing D I would imagine.

I'm really trying to like him and he grew a little on me last year but....he's "just ok" right now....but he still has time especially in TO to become something. IMO

Yep, just a little more balls and a little more heart and that's the player we want.
- underhill14

He's afraid of contact, not sure he'll ever get to where we need him...but I'm hoping.

Which stats are these? Same stats that show Franson as a top pairing D I would imagine.

I'm really trying to like him and he grew a little on me last year but....he's "just ok" right now....but he still has time especially in TO to become something. IMO
- Garnie

I can't stand his bonehead plays - truth is all d-men make errors, even Karlsson who is number one and Subban - who is #6 - It's TSN's list of top 50 d-men.

He's afraid of contact, not sure he'll ever get to where we need him...but I'm hoping.
- Garnie

Yes he is.

It amazes that these guys play for so long and make the pros being afraid of getting hit.

Kessel, Gardiner....players like that confuse the poop out of me. At some point you think they would get razed for being such pussies and then kinda peer pressured into taking a hit or two and then move past it....nope.

I can't stand his bonehead plays - truth is all d-men make errors, even Karlsson who is number one and Subban - who is #6 - It's TSN's list of top 50 d-men.
- winsix

I could probably stomach him giving up,the puck to avoid hits if he scored like those guys....but he doesn't do that either.

As I've stated, I hope he just keeps improving and surprises me over the next season or 2

In my 99 years of being a Leafs fan, I've never seen a bad a player as Jake Gardiner.



We need to trade him like, yesterday.

Yes he is.

It amazes that these guys play for so long and make the pros being afraid of getting hit.

Kessel, Gardiner....players like that confuse the poop out of me. At some point you think they would get razed for being such pussies and then kinda peer pressured into taking a hit or two and then move past it....nope.
- underhill14

Yep, Kessel really surprised me when he got here...loved his shot/playmaking but couldn't believe the amount he'd give up the puck to avoid the body.

Oh well, everybody can't be Chara I guess

In my 99 years of being a Leafs fan, I've never seen a bad a player as Jake Gardiner.



We need to trade him like, yesterday.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Somebody gave Jeff Finger a big contract....I think you're lying to us.

In my 99 years of being a Leafs fan, I've never seen a bad a player as Jake Gardiner.



We need to trade him like, yesterday.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

He's the second best defenseman currently left on the Leafs

He's the second best defenseman currently left on the Leafs
- AustonPowers

That doesn't mean too much

Edit: hey Stee

In my 99 years of being a Leafs fan, I've never seen a bad a player as Jake Gardiner.



We need to trade him like, yesterday.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

He's the second best defenseman currently left on the Leafs
- AustonPowers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOlUjW0ytRM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOlUjW0ytRM
- winsix

Spent all this time on paint for nothing. I could've ripped it (the avatar) right from there.

He's the second best defenseman currently left on the Leafs
- AustonPowers

(frank)ing Stee

Nobody here understands women any more than you do.
- systemtool

Sometimes women can go days without going poo. That's alien.