It’s been a little over a year now since the Carolina Hurricanes signed Jake Gardiner to a four-year, $16.2MM contract. It seemed the ink had only barely dried by the time speculation started swirling about his tenure in Carolina, with the team potentially looking to move on just a few months into the deal. At the trade deadline, the Hurricanes added Brady Skjei and Sami Vatanen, with the former signed through 2023-24.
Now in free agency, though Vatanen remains unsigned and the team moved on from Joel Edmundson, there is still a log jam of defenders in Carolina. Joakim Ryan has been brought in as an inexpensive depth option, while Jake Bean continues to wait patiently for his NHL opportunity. Gardiner meanwhile is in the news again, with Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet writing Carolina “continue to examine its trade options” for the veteran defenseman.
Gardiner, 30, was an incredibly polarizing player during his years with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Both one of their consistent options on the blue line and the author of the most ill-timed giveaways, he had fervent supporters and detractors over a 551-game tenure. In 2019-20 with the Hurricanes, the same frustrations were evident. Gardiner did record 24 points in 68 games, but was also limited to fewer than 17 minutes a night and was a team-leading -24 (the next closest player was Trevor van Riemsdyk’s -7 rating).
Unfortunately perhaps for the Hurricanes, Gardiner does hold a seven-team no-trade clause and is under a contract that is actually back-loaded. Though his cap hit may only be $4.05MM per season, the actual money owed reaches $12.55MM. That’s not a huge difference, but still could be one that makes a trade harder in the current financial landscape.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
With the amount of self-induced stress he’s caused himself, I’m almost surprised Jake has any hair left or isn’t ulcer-ridden. In a location that has minimal media pressure, he still can’t get the 800-lb gorilla off of his back.
As a Jets fan I am desperate for my team to trade for a top 4 defender. There was lots of early speculation that Carolina would be a fit for Laine, and a great trade partner for the Jets given your depth on D, etc. . . . . but I think that’s been put do bed for a while.
I pray the Jets have NO interest in Gardiner. But if one of Skjei, Fleury or Pesce were available, I would have no problem if the Jets packaged Roslovic and/or Veselainen with Niku in some way to get said d-man. (?picks and other players involved, of course?) I’d be one happy fan! (Of course, I’d love me some Jaccob Slavin, but who’s kidding who! . . . Laine doesnt even get us that piece!)
You’ll settle for Rasmus Ristolinen and LIKE IT!
NO ! Don’t break up the Rasmus’es in Buffalo, Girgensons Dahlin, Ristolainen
And, don’t forget “Rasmus G.” in TN! :) Nice sunset you got there!
It’s Zemgus Girgensons, what am I missing?
I’m missing it too on the Girgensons joke but riverrat is missing Asplund
@The Mistake of Giving Eugene Melnyk a Liver Transplant and
@Ol Voodoo – He’s just havin’ some fun on a boring Wednesday afternoon! We should just relax and enjoy his sunset… ;)
Thanks Ol Voodoo on correction , on my oversite on Rasmus Asplund
Mac,yes the sunset I placed on Land Between the Lakes website 2 years ago here in Tennessee , thanks it was a great shot while sitting on riverbank , Stay safe everyone
My error on names The Mistake of Giving Eugene Melnyk a Liver Transplant, it was a oversite didn’t look at names before typing message. off to principals office now for mistake
No, G, turns out the principal is with me on this moment of brilliance from you – everyone in Sabres-land is now going to be called Rasmus. Rasmus Eichel, Rasmus Hall, Rasmus Hutton… They will need some laughing material after they shovel out from under 16 feet of lake-effect snow. Even Duane from Buffalo might get a much-needed guffaw out of it! :)
Haha, no worries. I was just thinking that maybe he had started getting the nickname of Rasmus and it was like a Buffalo joke. I haven’t followed him too much since his junior days with Dubuque.
Send him to Minnesota…they love overpaying for guys…plus he’s a native
They prefer “indigenous”