Jake Gardiner
Gardiner with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2017
Born (1990-07-04) July 4, 1990 (age 33)
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.[1]
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 203 lb (92 kg; 14 st 7 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Free Agent
Toronto Maple Leafs
Carolina Hurricanes
National team  United States
NHL Draft 17th overall, 2008
Anaheim Ducks
Playing career 2011–present

Jake William Gardiner (born July 4, 1990) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He has previously played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 17th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Early life

Gardiner was born in Minnesota to parents Jill and John Gardiner. His father ran a printing business and coached Jake's ice hockey teams.[2]

Playing career

Early career

Gardiner with the Badgers during his third year at the University of Wisconsin, October 2010

Gardiner played ice hockey at Minnetonka High School.[3] Prior to his senior year at Minnetonka High School, Gardiner switched from forward to defense on the advice of Minnesota State University, Mankato coach Troy Jutting.[4] In his senior year, Gardiner was named a top-10 finalist for the Mr. Hockey Award and was later drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round, 17th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.[4] Despite his high draft place, he then attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison.[5]

In his freshman season with the Badgers, Gardiner was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team.[6] As an alternate captain with the Badgers during the 2010–2011 season, Gardiner was named to the All-WCHA Second Team.[4] While with the Badgers, on February 9, 2011, Anaheim traded Gardiner, along with Joffrey Lupul and a conditional fourth-round draft pick in 2013, to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for defenseman François Beauchemin.[7] Gardiner chose to forgo his senior season with the Badgers and instead signed a three-year entry level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.[8][9]

Professional

Toronto Maple Leafs

Gardiner started the 2011–12 season with the Leafs, scoring his first career NHL goal on January 24, 2012, against Al Montoya of the New York Islanders.[10] After his rookie campaign where he led rookie defensemen in scoring, Gardiner was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.[11]

Gardiner started his second season with the Toronto Marlies, due to the NHL Lockout. He posted 31 points in 43 games in the AHL, and then, once the NHL started up, he had 4 assists in 12 games. While playing with the Marlies, Gardiner suffered a concussion on December 8 and was out of the lineup for a month to recover.[12] On May 6, 2013, Gardiner became the first Toronto Maple Leaf to score a home Stanley Cup playoff goal since Mats Sundin scored in a 3–2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on May 4, 2004, a span of nine years and two days.[citation needed] He finished the playoffs with points in 6 games.

Gardiner with the Maple Leafs in March 2012

Gardiner scored a career high 10 goals and 31 points in the 2013–2014 season, trailing only Cody Franson in points among Leafs' defenders.[13]

On July 29, 2014, the Leafs signed Gardiner to a five-year, $20.25 million contract extension.[14] The Leafs struggled that season, and Gardiner managed only 4 goals and 24 points in 79 games, fourth among Leafs' defenders.[13]

For the 2015–16 season, the Leafs hired a new head coach, Mike Babcock, and cleared out Dion Phaneuf by the trade deadline. Gardiner had 7 goals and 31 points, second to Morgan Rielly among Leafs' defenders, taking a step forward under a new coach, even though the team lost the scoring presence of Phil Kessel.

In 2016–17, the Leafs became a winning team once again, an especially high scoring one with the addition of scoring phenoms Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner, among others. Gardiner posted a career high of 43 points, and was a +24, leading all Leafs' defenders in both categories.

During the 2017–18 season, Gardiner recorded his 50th point of the season on April 2, 2018, in a game against the Buffalo Sabres. With his 50th point, and fellow defenceman Morgan Rielly already having 51 points, they became the first two Leafs defensemen with at least 50 points in a season since Tomáš Kaberle and Bryan McCabe did it in 2006–07.[15] Both Gardiner and Rielly ended the regular season with a career high 52 points to help the Leafs to their second consecutive playoff showing,[16] in which they would lose to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round.

The following season, Gardiner played in his 500th career NHL game on October 27, 2018, against the Winnipeg Jets. In the game, he scored the tying goal in the third period to help the Leafs defeat the Jets 3–2.[17]

Carolina Hurricanes

On September 6, 2019, Gardiner signed a four-year, $16.2 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.[18]

Prior to entering his third season with the Hurricanes on September 7, 2021, it was announced that Gardiner was to undergo hip and back surgeries, which ruled him out for the entirety of the 2021–22 season.[19] Gardiner was reported to be healthy prior to the 2022–23 season, but suffered a set back with his recovery and missed an entire second season.[20][21] Gardiner's contract with the Hurricanes expired following the 2022-23 season.

International play


Gardiner with the U.S. national ice hockey team during the 2014 IIHF World Championship
Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Czech Republic
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2010 Canada

After the Toronto Maple Leafs failed to make a playoff run in the 2013–14 season, Gardiner joined teammates Nazem Kadri, James Reimer and Morgan Rielly to compete in the 2014 IIHF World Championship. He joined Team USA under coach Peter Laviolette, where the nation lost in the quarter-finals.[22] The following year, Gardiner was again named to Team USA for the 2015 IIHF World Championship, where they placed third.[23]

Personal life

On July 9, 2017, Gardiner married his long-time girlfriend Lucy, a fitness instructor, businesswoman, and social media influencer.[24] In September 2018, Lucy gave birth to their first child, a son.[25]

Gardiner's younger brother Max was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the third round, 74th overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.[26] He also has a younger sister, Paige, who runs a jewelry business.[27]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2005–06 Minnetonka High USHS 21 2 14 16 6 — — — — —
2006–07 Minnetonka High USHS 19 10 22 32 20 — — — — —
2007–08 Minnetonka High USHS 24 20 28 48 14 — — — — —
2008–09 University of Wisconsin WCHA 39 3 18 21 16 — — — — —
2009–10 University of Wisconsin WCHA 41 6 7 13 20 — — — — —
2010–11 University of Wisconsin WCHA 41 10 31 41 24 — — — — —
2010–11 Toronto Marlies AHL 10 0 3 3 4 — — — — —
2011–12 Toronto Marlies AHL 4 0 2 2 2 17 2 9 11 10
2011–12 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 75 7 23 30 18 — — — — —
2012–13 Toronto Marlies AHL 43 10 21 31 12 — — — — —
2012–13 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 12 0 4 4 0 6 1 4 5 0
2013–14 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 80 10 21 31 19 — — — — —
2014–15 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 79 4 20 24 24 — — — — —
2015–16 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 79 7 24 31 32 — — — — —
2016–17 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 82 9 34 43 34 6 1 2 3 4
2017–18 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 82 5 47 52 32 7 0 2 2 2
2018–19 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 62 3 27 30 26 7 0 2 2 0
2019–20 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 68 4 20 24 30 6 0 1 1 2
2020–21 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 26 0 8 8 11 1 0 0 0 0
2021–22 Carolina Hurricanes NHL Did not play
2022–23 Carolina Hurricanes NHL Did not play
NHL totals 645 49 228 277 226 33 2 11 13 8

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2010 United States WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 0 3 3 4
2014 United States WC 6th 8 1 3 4 0
2015 United States WC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 8 1 0 1 0
Junior totals 7 0 3 3 4
Senior totals 16 2 3 5 0

Awards and honors

Award Year
College
All-WCHA Rookie Team 2008–09
All-WCHA Second Team 2010–11
AHCA West Second-Team All-American 2010–11
NHL
NHL All-Rookie Team 2011–12

References

  1. ^ "Gardiner, Jake - Toronto Maple Leafs - News". Archived from the original on 2016-08-26. Retrieved 2016-07-13.
  2. ^ Ulmer, Mike (February 10, 2011). "Gardiner Still Developing With Badgers". NHL.com. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  3. ^ "Jake Gardiner Stats". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c Mike G. Morreale (October 26, 2011). "Switch to defense suited Leafs' Gardiner well". NHL.com. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  5. ^ Rutherford, Kristina. "'YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO'". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  6. ^ "WCHA ALL-ROOKIE TEAM" (PDF). wcha.com. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  7. ^ "Ducks deal for Beauchemin; Leafs get Lupul". National Hockey League. 2011-02-09. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  8. ^ Baggot, Andy (March 16, 2011). "UW men's hockey: Gardiner forgoes senior season, signs with Maple Leafs". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  9. ^ "Maple Leafs sign prospect Gardiner". Toronto Maple Leafs. 2011-03-15. Retrieved 2011-03-15.
  10. ^ "MacArthur's OT goal leads Leafs past Isles". National Hockey League. 2012-01-24. Retrieved 2012-01-24.
  11. ^ "Gardiner Named To 2011-12 All-Rookie Squad". NHL.com. June 21, 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  12. ^ Simmons, Jeff (January 25, 2013). "Leafs send D Gardiner down to AHL's Marlies". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  13. ^ a b "Jake Gardiner". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  14. ^ Hornby, Lance (July 29, 2014). "Maple Leafs sign Jake Gardiner to five-year deal". Toronto Sun. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  15. ^ McCarthy, Dave (April 2, 2018). "Matthews, Nylander help Maple Leafs top Sabres". NHL.com. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  16. ^ Shoalts, David (April 10, 2018). "Maple Leafs' Rielly, Gardiner hope strong seasons lead to playoff success". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  17. ^ Fox, Luke (October 27, 2018). "Matthews injury overshadows Maple Leafs' comeback win over Jets". sportsnet.ca. Toronto. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  18. ^ "Canes Sign Jake Gardiner to Four-Year Deal". Carolina Hurricanes. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  19. ^ "Hurricanes D Gardiner to miss season". The Sports Network. September 7, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  20. ^ Power, Conor (June 3, 2022). "Jake Gardiner is healthy and now the Hurricanes have a decision to make". FanSided / Cardiac Cane.
  21. ^ Parsons Sr., Jim (August 21, 2023). "Ex-Maple Leafs' Defenseman Jake Gardiner: Where Is He Now?". TheHockeyWriters.com.
  22. ^ "Leafs benefit from world championship experience". sportsnet.ca. September 13, 2014. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  23. ^ Sanful, John (May 17, 2015). "USA bringing bronze home". iihfworlds2015.com. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  24. ^ "Here's how Maple Leafs players are spending their summer". DailyHive Toronto. August 22, 2017.
  25. ^ Hornby, Lance (September 21, 2018). "Oh baby, Maple Leafs' Jake Gardiner ready for a new challenge". Toronto Sun. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  26. ^ "Max Gardiner player profile". eliteprospects.com. 2014-04-05. Retrieved 2014-04-05.
  27. ^ Lomon, Chris (November 17, 2016). "GARDINER: ROLE MODEL TURNED ACTUAL MODEL". nhlpa.com. Retrieved February 19, 2018.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jake Gardiner.
Awards and achievements Preceded byLogan MacMillan Anaheim Ducks first round draft pick 2008 Succeeded byPeter Holland
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