Could be Splitsville for Leafs’ Rielly, Gardiner
Defence partners no longer roommates, may find themselves separated on the ice as well
BUFFALO, N.Y.— Breaking up is hard to do, and parting is such sweet sorrow.
Morgan Rielly and Jake Gardiner are — gasp — no longer roommates, and Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock is considering breaking them up as defence partners.
“I feel like a time comes in every rela- tionship,” deadpanned Rielly. “We just decided not to live together. It was tough on both sides.”
Gardiner left first, taking the Xbox and leaving behind everything else; Rielly put Gardiner’s stuff in a dumpster.
“Sometimes you just need to split up,” said Gardiner. “He wanted to live alone and I was totally fine with it. Sometimes you don’t want a roommate and that’s fine. We’re still buddies.”
And it didn’t take long for Gardiner to find a new roommate.
“Will Arnett. We’re the opposite. He’s an actor, I play hockey. We’re going to try to make it work.”
Faux melodrama aside, the real story is the chemistry Rielly and Gardiner have together, and the hope the two smoothskating youngsters offer a franchise in rebuilding mode.
The two played together Tuesday night in a 4-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. It was a flat performance by the Leafs compared to the energy shown by the Sabres, led by a short-handed breakaway goal by rookie Jack Eichel in the first period. The Leafs haven’t scored in their last two games.
Gardiner leads all Leaf defencemen in scoring in the pre-season, with a goal and two assists in four games. Rielly has two assists in three games.
But Babcock is not married to the idea of the two of them — both left-handed shots — playing together in the regular season.
“I haven’t said I liked them,” said Babcock.
“They’re just playing together (against Buffalo). I took Gardiner away from Rielly most of camp because I don’t want Jake taking a back seat. I want Jake to be a player.”
Both rearguards understand the situation. They have a one-of-a-kind coach in Babcock, whose biggest asset might be able to get the Leafs famously freelancing youngsters to buy in to a system and play the game the so-called “right” way.
“He’s been great with little things every singe day,” said Gardiner. “Stuff I never really think about . . . with my stick, pushing my foot up the boards, making them (opposition forwards) turn one way, always fac- ing the puck. Little things like that help.”
Gardiner may have the most to gain. Rielly, 21, has always had good habits and a keen instinct for the game. Gardiner, 25, has had up-anddown relationships with coaches in the past, but he’s off to a good start with Babcock.
“I’m ready to take that next step,” said Gardiner. “I feel more comfortable this year. Good coaching staff, very supportive.”
The Leaf blue line is anything but settled. Captain Dion Phaneuf has been mostly paired with newcomer Matt Hunwick. Rielly and Gardiner are a natural second pair, but one or the other may end up with Phaneuf.
“I’ll play wherever Mike wants me to play,” said Rielly. “If he thinks having me and Jake as a pairing will help the team win games, then I’m happy to play with him. I think Jake’s a great player. He moves the puck really well, creates a lot of openings. On defence he’s responsible. Playing with him is fun, we always enjoy it.
“If he decides he wants Jake to play with someone else, that’s OK with me, too. Whatever is going to help the team win is really the most important thing.”
Roman Polak is a lock as the fifth defenceman, with Martin Marincin, Scott Harrington, Stuart Percy and Victor Loov fighting it out as the sixth and seventh. Because of his contract, Stephane Robidas will likely end up as the eighth defenceman.