Zero to 500 a blur for Gardiner
Jake Gardiner’ s life has changed a great deal since his early days in Toronto.
He’s gone from a high-end defence prospect — with a penchant for giveaways that irked his coaches — to a more complete player who, on Saturday night, played his 500th NHL game.
“It goes by pretty fast. It’s been a fun 500. Hopefully (I can) play a lot more,” the Maple Leafs defenceman said before a 3-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets at Scotiabank Arena — in which his tying goal late in the third period turned the tide.
At 500 games played, Gardiner moved into a tie with Harry Lumley for 39th in Leafs history, and he should get to 25th by the end of the season, passing Brian Glennie (554).
Gardiner is the Leafs’ active leader in that category, one ahead of Nazem Kadri. It was also NHL game No. 500 for Tyler Ennis.
“It’s important to them,” Leafs coach Mike Babcock said, also mentioning other milestones that are close — Morgan Rielly approaching 400 games, Ron Hainsey nearing 1,000. “When you look at the whole thing, when you’re first trying to get in the league you’re thinking, ‘Jeez, can I just get in?’
“Then once you’re in, you kind of get a little selfish and want to be here a long time, but you’ve got to be good to be here a long time. I think it’s something you can share with your family. It’s a special thing, and yet you usually worry about the next 100.”
To get to 24th, passing Ian Turnbull (580), the pending unrestricted free agent would have to re-sign and questions linger about how much money he will command, and how the Leafs might make it fit.
The hope — with William Nylander and later Auston Matthews plus Mitch Marner due for big raises — is that Gardiner agrees to a hometown discount and doesn’t demand more than the $5 million per season that Rielly makes (all dollars U.S.). But Gardiner’s skating, passing and zone-exit talents put him in some pretty heady company. Many believe he could fetch $7 million a year.
“I think Jake is an elite, elite player,” Babcock said.
“He’s got unreal hockey sense. He makes great plays offensively, good defensively. Every once in a while you’ve got to give him a little tightening, but other than that he’s a real good player for us.”
Only 19 defencemen scored at least 50 points last year, including Gardiner and Rielly (52 apiece).
“It’s just so hard to be a 50point D-man,” said Babcock. “I don’t know what the number is, is there 30? When you think of that, every team gets one and we’re fortunate enough to have two. We’ve just got to find a way to keep them.”
The Leafs acquired Gardiner in one of former general manager Brian Burke’s canniest moves. On Feb. 9, 2011, the Leafs sent defenceman Francois Beauchemin to Anaheim for Gardiner, Joffrey Lupul and a fourth-round pick in 2013 (ultimately dealt to Chicago in a package for Dave Bolland). Lupul was a key player when the Leafs briefly looked like they were on the rise in 2013, but Gardiner, now 28, has proven to be the real gem.
His relationships with coaches were rocky early on — his play gave Ron Wilson and Randy Carlyle fits sometimes — but Babcock has been a huge backer.
“You always wants your coach to have your back,” said Gardiner. “It makes it easier to play. Babs has been great.”