After 3 games Gardiner is sitting at a +1, with only 2 shots on goal, slow start, but means for a trade?
We dont think so....
Check out this article from the Post today:
Why Toronto Maple Leafs trading Jake Gardiner would be a mistake
Michael Traikos | Published: 08/10/13
More from Michael Traikos | @Michael_Traikos
More from Michael Traikos | @Michael_Traikos
Claus Andersen/Getty ImagesJake Gardiner was part of the NHL’s all-rookie team in 2011-12, when he had seven goals and 30 points in 75 games.
First of all, the Toronto Maple Leafs are not shopping Jake Gardiner.
Assistant general manager Claude Loiselle said as much in an radio interview with Sportsnet Fan 590 on Tuesday morning. But as CBC’s Elliotte Friedman reported and Loiselle confirmed, teams are inquiring about the availability of the 23-year-old defenceman. And right now, the Leafs are doing nothing more than listening.
There are two reasons why teams are calling: the first is because Toronto forwards are dropping like flies and the team has depth of puck-moving defenceman. The other and more obvious reason is because there appears to be friction between head coach Randy Carlyle and Gardiner.
The two are simply not compatible. This goes back to last season, when Carlyle favoured minor-league journeyman Mike Kostka over Gardiner, and has carried over to this year with Gardiner receiving the fewest minutes of any defenceman.
For those reasons, teams are apparently connecting the dots and gauging Toronto’s interest in parting ways.
As long as the Leafs do nothing more than listen, they will be fine. But barring a ridiculous offer — say, if Brian Burke is willing to offer two first-round picks and a second-rounder — making a move at this point would be a mistake.
Again, Gardiner is only 23. He was part of the NHL’s all-rookie team in 2011-12, when he had seven goals and 30 points in 75 games. He will get better and his relationship with Carlyle will improve. He already is the best skater on Toronto’s defence and does things with the puck that cannot be taught. If he ever learns how to play in his defensive zone and reel in his high-risk tendencies — the way that Nazem Kadri was able to — there is no telling how good he can be.
More than that, the Leafs need him in the lineup these days. The team might have plenty of young defencemen in the system (Petter Granberg, Stuart Percy, Matt Finn) but they are not ready to jump in the lineup and take Gardiner’s minutes.
If Gardiner is gone, who replaces him? Morgan Rielly has played just one game; John-Michael Liles is buried in the minors for a reason; T.J. Brennan, just named the American Hockey League’s player of the week, has 40 NHL games under his belt.
Right now, Gardiner is the best option. And yet the Leafs must listen to offers, and they must decide on Gardiner’s future sometime this season.
He becomes a free agent July 1 — along with fellow defencemen Dion Phaneuf, Cody Franson, Mark Fraser and Paul Ranger — and the Leafs have to determine what they have with the former first-round pick. Can Gardiner grow into a top-four role? Can he take Phaneuf’s minutes if the team decides to part ways with the captain? Can he become someone Carlyle trusts?
If not, maybe he will get traded. But if it happens now, the team would likely regret it.
http://sports.nationalpost.com/2013/10/08/why-the-toronto-maple-leafs-should-not-trade-jake-gardiner/
Assistant general manager Claude Loiselle said as much in an radio interview with Sportsnet Fan 590 on Tuesday morning. But as CBC’s Elliotte Friedman reported and Loiselle confirmed, teams are inquiring about the availability of the 23-year-old defenceman. And right now, the Leafs are doing nothing more than listening.
There are two reasons why teams are calling: the first is because Toronto forwards are dropping like flies and the team has depth of puck-moving defenceman. The other and more obvious reason is because there appears to be friction between head coach Randy Carlyle and Gardiner.
The two are simply not compatible. This goes back to last season, when Carlyle favoured minor-league journeyman Mike Kostka over Gardiner, and has carried over to this year with Gardiner receiving the fewest minutes of any defenceman.
For those reasons, teams are apparently connecting the dots and gauging Toronto’s interest in parting ways.
As long as the Leafs do nothing more than listen, they will be fine. But barring a ridiculous offer — say, if Brian Burke is willing to offer two first-round picks and a second-rounder — making a move at this point would be a mistake.
Again, Gardiner is only 23. He was part of the NHL’s all-rookie team in 2011-12, when he had seven goals and 30 points in 75 games. He will get better and his relationship with Carlyle will improve. He already is the best skater on Toronto’s defence and does things with the puck that cannot be taught. If he ever learns how to play in his defensive zone and reel in his high-risk tendencies — the way that Nazem Kadri was able to — there is no telling how good he can be.
If Gardiner is gone, who replaces him?
If Gardiner is gone, who replaces him? Morgan Rielly has played just one game; John-Michael Liles is buried in the minors for a reason; T.J. Brennan, just named the American Hockey League’s player of the week, has 40 NHL games under his belt.
Right now, Gardiner is the best option. And yet the Leafs must listen to offers, and they must decide on Gardiner’s future sometime this season.
He becomes a free agent July 1 — along with fellow defencemen Dion Phaneuf, Cody Franson, Mark Fraser and Paul Ranger — and the Leafs have to determine what they have with the former first-round pick. Can Gardiner grow into a top-four role? Can he take Phaneuf’s minutes if the team decides to part ways with the captain? Can he become someone Carlyle trusts?
If not, maybe he will get traded. But if it happens now, the team would likely regret it.
http://sports.nationalpost.com/2013/10/08/why-the-toronto-maple-leafs-should-not-trade-jake-gardiner/
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