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Toronto Maple Leafs: Should They Trade Jake Gardiner?

By Tim Chiasson |
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In this week’s roundtable we’re sharing thoughts on whether or not the Toronto Maple Leafs should deal Jake Gardiner.

Q: Should the Toronto Maple Leafs trade Jake Gardiner? Why/Why not?

Scroll through the slides for all five responses.

Alex Watson

For the moment I think Leafs should hold off on trading Gardiner. Dion Phaneuf looks like he will most definitely be on the move, so the Leafs will need at least one D-man with depth next season.

Gardiner’s form suffered previously because of the obvious friction between him and Carlyle. Under Mike Babcock he could be a different player – plus he is still at a young age where he could develop into the leader that Toronto needs.

Unless a good offer comes in for him, I think the Leafs should stay put.

Next: David Chernish's Thoughts

Jan 19, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake Gardiner (51) comes off the ice after a loss to the Carolina Hurricanes at the Air Canada Centre. Carolina defeated Toronto 4-1. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

David Chernish

Jake Gardiner is one of my favorite Maple Leafs, but we may be able to use Gardiner as trade bait to get another first round pick and prospect or trade back into the top 10 to draft a top forward.

That would add depth to the prospect cupboard and give Toronto Maple Leafs fans players to follow and cheer for during their development.

Gardiner could use a fresh start, but he already has one in Toronto with new management and coach. If there is any coach that could improve Gardiner’s development, it would be Mike Babcock.

So if the Maple Leafs can get a first rounder or top 10 pick, you pull the trigger on that deal. Any other deal I would just elect to keep him.

Next: Tim Chiasson's Thoughts

Jan 2, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner (51) skates with the puck in the second period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Minnesota Wild win 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Tim Chiasson

If I’m the front office team I’m listening very closely if teams call on Jake Gardiner.

There’s no questioning he brings a positive possession game to the table – and Mike Babcock might be able to salvage his defensive game – but he’s still a project at age 25 (in July) and this will be his third full-time coach in Toronto.

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He didn’t get along with Ron Wilson and it seemed like he had issues with Randy Carlyle. That’s not a good trend.

That doesn’t mean I think they should give him away, though. If Colorado called and offered their 10th overall pick I’d pack Jake’s bags for him. If Toronto could end up with, say, Zach Werenski for the future instead of Jake Gardiner I think it’d be better for the rebuild.

If they could get a later first round pick + a prospect he’d be gone there, too.

If the Toronto Maple Leafs can’t get an adequate return for him then it’s probably worthwhile to see what Mike Babcock can do with him. Toronto doesn’t have to trade anyone right now so they hold the cards on a Jake Gardiner trade.

It comes down to how bad a team wants him, and what the return will be. A top ten pick in this draft is very valuable. In five years when the Leafs are ready, hopefully, to legitimately compete would you rather have a 30 year old Jake Gardiner, or a 23 year old top prospect like Werenski?

Next: Cynthia Bin's Thoughts

Cynthia Bin

Jake Gardiner has had flashes of brilliance and, well, more than a few moments that were not so brilliant.

Gardiner harnesses a lot potential, it just comes down to what Mike Babcock and the new coaching staff can do with him. Jake Gardiner has a lot of upside and he’s an excellent skater, his SOG have increased consistently every season he’s been with the Leafs, and he’s also a D-Man who can score.

He has potential to become a great defenseman – the major issue is his consistency and getting him there. The big question here is what causes Gardiner’s “off” games; the type of games where his head seems to leave the game. Sometimes he displays a lack of defensive focus, careless mistakes – game costing mistakes.

There are games where he constantly coughs up pucks in the defensive zone and gives up golden scoring opportunities. There are also times when he is absolutely careless and leaves the opposition wide open and forgets to cover his man.

Yes, these are some major defensive downfalls. but there is still an upside here. If you look at Gardiner’s stats he has shown huge improvement over his last four seasons with the Leafs. When Gardiner is on his game and not being a liability he is actually the most effective defenseman at clearing the puck out of the zone.

If you happen to be a corsi/stats geek you would see that Jake Gardiner is one of the best defensemen the Leafs have. I’m not going to get into corsi because it’s not my thing and I really haven’t wrapped my head around it all yet.

One thing that I have learned, however, is that what you see on the ice and what’s actually on paper sometimes just doesn’t make sense. Just google it, it’s definitely out there. In reality, there are much bigger problems on the Leafs blue line other than Jake Gardiner.

With a little fine tuning by Babcock and the new coaching staff Gardiner could potentially be moulded into an excellent top pairing D-man. Gardiner is still young and can learn – he’s only 24 years old. The new coaching can either make him or break him.

If Gardiner can gain a little more confidence and learn to maintain his defensive focus for all 3 periods of the game it will be an absolute “game changer.”

All in all, if the Leafs were to get an unreal offer that they could not refuse for Jake. No, I would not be devastated to see him go. But realistically I can’t see anybody knocking at the Leafs door begging to acquire Jake Gardiner. I say if the new staff works on developing his defensive game and focus this season he may turn out to be a diamond in the rough.

Next: Torrin Batchelor's Thoughts

Sep 24, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake Gardiner (51) carries the puck against the Ottawa Senators during the second period at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Torrin Batchelor

All depends on the offers for him.

Jake Gardiner has shown flashes of being a dominant puck handling D-man, capable of frustrating opposing forwards by keeping control of the puck and getting it out of trouble.

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He has also shown the propensity for massive brain cramps that result in primo scoring opportunities for the other team. He is very much a love/hate kind of player, but with Mike Babcock’s apparent love of D-men who can skate, and his relatively young age (24), he fits right into the teams rebuilding plans.

He also carries the kind of trade value at an increasingly economic $4.05M for the next four seasons.

When compared to recent big time dollars handed out to the likes of Jeff Petry, Nick Leddy, Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen – it sparkles.

The Avalanche supposedly “covet” him, so perhaps there’s a trade to be made there for the 10th overall pick, and/or a Ryan O’Reilly deal? However, the Leafs have no pressure to move him, no should they, as he is truly an asset that they can most likely coax more out of under Babcock.

If the right deal comes along, then yes, absolutely trade him – as he isn’t an integral or untouchable piece of the rebuild.

The Leafs have time with Gardiner though, and should utilize this time, especially with a very thin trade and free agent market for Dmen. Also, the ever growing need to have a solid top 6 group to be a contender (take a look at Tampa, Chicago, Anaheim and the Rangers) creates a possible bidding war for Gardiner later in the summer.

No need to move him, but they absolutely should IF they get the right kind of return.

Next: Leafs Rumors: Calls on Lupul, Others

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