Sportsnet NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman has revealed a list of the 5 most likely potential suitors for UFA blueliner Jake Gardiner's services on the Tim and Sid podcast. According to Friedman, the 5 teams who are vying for the rearguard's services are Arizona, Winnipeg, Montreal, Buffalo and Carolina.
It is no secret that Jake Gardiner loves Toronto and would prefer to stay there. It is also no secret that the Maple Leafs are up against the cap in a bad way and may not be able to afford Gardiner unless RFA Mitch Marner and agent Darren Ferris agree to take less on a 2 or a 3 year bridge deal. At this point, that seems unlikely as Marner and his agent are rumoured to be eyeing up a 5 year term on a new deal.
"Aside from that he really wants to play there [in Toronto], I don't see how it benefits his marketability if he comes back to Toronto, because there won't be the opportunities to play as much as he's played in the past." A comment Friedman made on how Gardiner would even fit into the picture in Toronto, as the Leafs have revamped their blueline during the off season. With Rielly, Muzzin and Dermott (IR) slotted down the left side, it appears as though the writing is on the wall for Jake Gardiner and it is likely that this is the end of his tenure in Toronto.
When asked what he makes of what is happening in Winnipeg and how Gardiner would fit in with the Jets, Friedman had this to say: "They lost from their blue line. Some key pieces. Myers is no longer there, Trouba is no longer there, Chiarot is no longer there. I think their blue line got kind of racked a bit and I could see them being potentially interested in something like that."
With Kyle Connor and Patrick Laine still requiring contracts in Winnipeg, it's hard to imagine the Jets being able to afford Gardiner unless they move out another big contract or trade one of the pending RFAs.
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