JAKE GARDINER - Defenseman - 29 - $4.05MM Cap Hit - UFA in 2023-2024
LAST UPDATED 9/8/19
Gardiner, thanks to a questionable bill of health, had an extended stay as an unrestricted free agent, finally landing with the Hurricanes all the way in in September. Gardiner is still very much a valuable NHL defenseman. He had some ups and downs in Toronto, perhaps most famously with his much-maligned Game 7 performance in Boston two years ago, but in total he was always seen as a key cornerstone of their defense. Gardiner has always been an offensively-focused defenseman. He's a fine skater with great vision and strong puck skills. He can help with zone exits, zone entries, and stretch passes, refining a team's transition game. He shouldn't quarterback a power play, but he can be a safe player to give an outlet pass too if his forwards are feeling too much pressure, and he can step into the rush and make plays there too. He doesn't have a great shot and won't be a major threat from the point, but his passing alone gives him power play value. Defensively, Gardiner is a mixed bag. His skating allows him to generate zone exits, which gives him defensive value. He lacks a physical side to his game, though, and will struggle if asked to fight for position or for pucks against stronger forwards. Gardiner can also have some mental lapses in the defensive zone and is known to be somewhat mistake prone when he gets flustered. I don't think he's an outright liability in his own end like other offensive defensemen can be (see: Kevin Shattenkirk) but he's far from an impact defensive defenseman. Given his offensive prowess and transitional abilities, Gardiner has real value, but that value is hurt by his defensive flaws, and the combined sides of his game altogether
Gardiner, thanks to a questionable bill of health, had an extended stay as an unrestricted free agent, finally landing with the Hurricanes all the way in in September. Gardiner is still very much a valuable NHL defenseman. He had some ups and downs in Toronto, perhaps most famously with his much-maligned Game 7 performance in Boston two years ago, but in total he was always seen as a key cornerstone of their defense. Gardiner has always been an offensively-focused defenseman. He's a fine skater with great vision and strong puck skills. He can help with zone exits, zone entries, and stretch passes, refining a team's transition game. He shouldn't quarterback a power play, but he can be a safe player to give an outlet pass too if his forwards are feeling too much pressure, and he can step into the rush and make plays there too. He doesn't have a great shot and won't be a major threat from the point, but his passing alone gives him power play value. Defensively, Gardiner is a mixed bag. His skating allows him to generate zone exits, which gives him defensive value. He lacks a physical side to his game, though, and will struggle if asked to fight for position or for pucks against stronger forwards. Gardiner can also have some mental lapses in the defensive zone and is known to be somewhat mistake prone when he gets flustered. I don't think he's an outright liability in his own end like other offensive defensemen can be (see: Kevin Shattenkirk) but he's far from an impact defensive defenseman. Given his offensive prowess and transitional abilities, Gardiner has real value, but that value is hurt by his defensive flaws, and the combined sides of his game altogether
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