Jake Gardiner

[cw]

It is kind of interesting that Antro's held up relatively well. Gagne, Gomez and Horcoff may have been better players in their prime but they look like shadows of that these days.

I think sometimes people forget, me included, what it was like for him then and the hurdles he overcame with injuries though I still think Borat got a couple spring loaded knees for him. Tough guy, classy and a Canadian to boot, I miss him.

I can't remember what team it was but there was one other team really interested in him at the draft that, IIRC, forced Toronto's hand a bit, anyone?

As I vaguely recall, there was another team rumoured wanting to take him late in the 1st round and another team that was supposedly planning on taking him early in the 2nd round. I'm really vague on the teams .. Oilers, Pens (or maybe the Wings and I could be wrong on that). I did come away with thinking that there was no way he would have lasted until 57th or whatever his ranking was.

Unlike many Leafs picks, he's one example where the Leafs were patient with the big man.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I can't remember what team it was but there was one other team really interested in him at the draft that, IIRC, forced Toronto's hand a bit, anyone?

Someone in the thread mentioned the Oilers, but, for some reason, I remember it being the Wings.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it was Detroit.

x 3. I'm pretty sure it was Detroit that was going to draft him.

 

[Tigger]

Thanks guys. Detroit rings a bell now, maybe the Oilers too but all I really remember is reading about it and I couldn't find a source.

 

[Peter D.]

Thanks guys. Detroit rings a bell now, maybe the Oilers too but all I really remember is reading about it and I couldn't find a source.

I am pretty certain both teams were interested in him at 12 and 13 if I recall correctly.

 

[maplesyrup]

I humbly withdraw my Antropov was something of a project too statement and vigorously apologize with for being a bad little Leaf fan.

 

[ZBBM]

I humbly withdraw my Antropov was something of a project too statement and vigorously apologize with for being a bad little Leaf fan.

You will be forgiven, I'm sure.  Most everyone here had their ups and downs with him when he was a Leaf.  Some too, I fear, conflated him with Poni, they both being "Russians.".  Kind of making him into an Antropovkarovsky.

Anyway, to direct the thread back to topic, I note that Gardiner is shorter than him.  Significant?  My gut tells me yes.

 

[maplesyrup]

I humbly withdraw my Antropov was something of a project too statement and vigorously apologize with for being a bad little Leaf fan.

You will be forgiven, I'm sure.  Most everyone here had their ups and downs with him when he was a Leaf.  Some too, I fear, conflated him with Poni, they both being "Russians.".  Kind of making him into an Antropovkarovsky.

Thank you. To be clear though, just because I thought he was a "project"/reach doesn't mean I had a problem with him or that we drafted him. I like many were frustrated with him at times but each year he was here, there were probably 10 other guys on the team that caused me more grief.   

 

[Number 5]

Only 10?

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I humbly withdraw my Antropov was something of a project too statement and vigorously apologize with for being a bad little Leaf fan.

You will be forgiven, I'm sure.  Most everyone here had their ups and downs with him when he was a Leaf.  Some too, I fear, conflated him with Poni, they both being "Russians.".  Kind of making him into an Antropovkarovsky.

I like many were frustrated with him at times but each year he was here, there were probably 10 other guys on the team that caused me more grief. 

Even on those teams that made the playoffs?

 

[maplesyrup]

Come on lads, you're really going to make me go through each team and make a list of guys I liked less than Antropov?

 

[maplesyrup]

Random year; 02/03

Hoglund
Renberg
Green
Fitzgerald
Lumme
Berg
P. Healey
Pilar
Poni
Reichel

... and on and on.... Man, Antropov might have been one of my favourites on that team.

 

[Newbury]

Random year; 02/03

Hoglund
Renberg
Green
Fitzgerald
Lumme
Berg
P. Healey
Pilar
Poni
Reichel

... and on and on.... Man, Antropov might have been one of my favourites on that team.

How on earth could you possibly not like Jonas Hoglund?

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Come on lads, you're really going to make me go through each team and make a list of guys I liked less than Antropov?

No, I don't really care, I just commented because Antropov wasn't a big part of those teams that made it to the playoffs.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Getting back on-topic, I really like this Jake Gardiner.  He has demonstrated good puck-handling skills, even though his defensive game needs fine-tuning.  Excellent skater, too, and keen point passer.

In a way, he reminds me of a young Tomas Kaberle, when he first started out playing in the NHL for the Leafs.  He was a red-faced youngster with great speed who got out of position many a game.  Slowly but surely, with enough patience which the Leafs showed, he became one of their best.

Gardiner has the same potential, which is why it's best that he stays with the big club, and that the Leafs have enough patience with him so that he can improve steadily.

 

[Hank Yarbo]

Random year; 02/03

Hoglund
Renberg
Green
Fitzgerald
Lumme
Berg
P. Healey
Pilar
Poni
Reichel

... and on and on.... Man, Antropov might have been one of my favourites on that team.

How on earth could you possibly not like Jonas Hoglund?

He's easy to confuse with a broken fax machine

 

[Redleaf]

Gardiner may get some time on the wing soon....

?The way Jake skates, and Jake spent a good part of his career as a forward, I could see him taking a few shifts up front,? Wilson said. ?(Dressing seven D) also gives me an opportunity to double-shift Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul as well.?

 

[maplesyrup]

Gardiner may get some time on the wing soon....

?The way Jake skates, and Jake spent a good part of his career as a forward, I could see him taking a few shifts up front,? Wilson said. ?(Dressing seven D) also gives me an opportunity to double-shift Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul as well.?

Paul Hendrick agrees;

HennyTweets Paul Hendrick
Jake gardiner could see time at forward tonight.
2 hours ago

 

[maplesyrup]

Pretty impressive stuff from JG...

mirtle James Mirtle
Hard to believe Jake Gardiner is fifth on the Leafs in minutes played per game so far. Few thought he would even make the team.
5 minutes ago

mirtle James Mirtle
Minus his first two games where he hardly played, Gardiner's averaged 20:20 per game - which would be second among all rookies in NHL.
1 minute ago

 

[Redleaf]

I'm really starting to appreciate the skill set of Gardiner. He's getting lots of minutes now, and has thoroughly impressed. Once he gets more acclimatized to the pro game I think we will see more of his offensive side as well. What a pick-up!

 

[slapshot]

I've heard comparison of Gardiner to Phil Housley, Thomas Kaberle and such.  However, I beg to differ. He is a lot stronger and less soft than such types, and even at his tender age, it is easy to see that he will be better than both of them defensively.
I think Wilson was bang on when saying it is the offensive side of the game Gardiner still has to figure out, knowing how and when to generate offence at this level. When he gets that together - look out!
I see him more like a poor man's Scott Neidermeyer at the least. He has the great skating, calm demeanor. If he ever figures out how to play the game like Neidermeyer did, the Leafs could have one of the best d-men in the league for a long time. I'm not saying he'll be another Neidermeyer, but if he was even 75 per cent of that, who'd complain?
Besides, it seems only fitting the Leafs should snag a first round draft steal d-men after trading their 1st round pick for Tom Kurvers, which turned out to be Neidermeyer.