Ben Shelley: SHORT READ: Hurricanes sign Jake Gardiner

I think Jake at that price is an excellent pickup, and will slot in quite nicely on a stacked blueline. I can't help but think that maybe they are shipping him or another D-man out for some help upfront.

A lot of teams would have liked him at that AAV

I think Jake at that price is an excellent pickup, and will slot in quite nicely on a stacked blueline. I can't help but think that maybe they are shipping him or another D-man out for some help upfront.

A lot of teams would have liked him at that AAV
- dunner84

Yeah it's a great deal. There's a stronger possibility of moving Faulk now I'd say.

Yeah it's a great deal. There's a stronger possibility of moving Faulk now I'd say.
- Ben Shelley

They probably already have a deal in place for him. Gardiner was "waiting on a team to make cap space". Canes are 1.5 milllion over the cap at the moment. A trade is coming within the next few days most likely.

Probably Pulju vs Faulk, maybe not straight up, but something like it.

It is a good deal. Good for Jake. He isnt a terrible player so I'm happy he found a spot on a roster.

I think Jake at that price is an excellent pickup, and will slot in quite nicely on a stacked blueline. I can't help but think that maybe they are shipping him or another D-man out for some help upfront.

A lot of teams would have liked him at that AAV
- dunner84

Well they are 100% not flipping him. That isnt how pro sports work. Just sign a free agent to only flip him.

On another note. Super generic write up. Turn up over machine. Blah blah blah. So is Karlsson.

Wow. Any of you Leaf fans watch any games? "Area 51" is a mess in his own end. Worse than useless, he's a constant liability. I wouldn't gibe "Dash 5" 4 bucks a year. Absolutely brain dead, Not what you want in a defenseman.

Lol... At 4 mill they can work with that. Watch out for the canes...

It is a good deal. Good for Jake. He isnt a terrible player so I'm happy he found a spot on a roster.
- Aaron_85

Agreed, thanks for reading!

Well they are 100% not flipping him. That isnt how pro sports work. Just sign a free agent to only flip him.

On another note. Super generic write up. Turn up over machine. Blah blah blah. So is Karlsson.
- poisondhearts37

First off, thanks for reading.

Second, I'm aware it's generic. That's why there's a warning with "Short Read" right in the title. Anyone who's been reading my posts by now knows that when I have that in the title, it's just a post meant to get the news out on this site when I have the chance to do so. Same reason why at the end of the article I mentioned I have a longer form post about the signing coming out tomorrow.

They have to move Faulk now, who's probably on par with JG D wise, better shot, right shot, vs. better puck carrier, left shot.

I was a rare Leaf fan who liked JG, who appreciated the possession game he played with less than ideal partners most of the time (outside of when him and Rielly looked outstanding that first playoffs against the Caps).

But man, do not watch any games with your drunk uncles or old man: he will make catastrophic controller-disconnected gaffs and you'll never hear the end of it.

First off, thanks for reading.

Second, I'm aware it's generic. That's why there's a warning with "Short Read" right in the title. Anyone who's been reading my posts by now knows that when I have that in the title, it's just a post meant to get the news out on this site when I have the chance to do so. Same reason why at the end of the article I mentioned I have a longer form post about the signing coming out tomorrow.
- Ben.Shelley

I get it. Perhaps its part of my bad day. Appreciate you making a post to share the news.

They have to move Faulk now, who's probably on par with JG D wise, better shot, right shot, vs. better puck carrier, left shot.

I was a rare Leaf fan who liked JG, who appreciated the possession game he played with less than ideal partners most of the time (outside of when him and Rielly looked outstanding that first playoffs against the Caps).

But man, do not watch any games with your drunk uncles or old man: he will make catastrophic controller-disconnected gaffs and you'll never hear the end of it.
- gravyface

I'm a Gardiner fan too, but "catastrophic controller-disconnected gaffs" is also an excellent description of his play from time to time.

Thanks for reading!

I get it. Perhaps its part of my bad day. Appreciate you making a post to share the news.
- poisondhearts37

I appreciate the reply, hope the day turns around for you!

I'm a Gardiner fan too, but "catastrophic controller-disconnected gaffs" is also an excellent description of his play from time to time.

Thanks for reading!
- Ben.Shelley

I do hope his back holds up. He did not look good against the Bruins in the playoffs.

Nice blog Ben, really appreciated the way you handled some of the negative stuff, well done without making waves, lol Thanks poisonedheart37 as well for your final post, very encouraging, unlike the Philly site where every time you post something someone jumps all over you and the rest of the keyboard warriors start to bully. Like your blogs Ben, thanks.
I think Gardiner will be fine now that he is out of Toronto where the pressure is never ending. He has great wheels, that is for sure.

All this stuff about Jake's back is BS. He was bad well before his "bad back"

What a weird signing. Carolina is like the only team in the league that doesn't really get better by bringing Gardiner in. Makes about as much sense as trading de Haan and Saarela for Forsling and Forsberg

I'm a Gardiner fan too, but "catastrophic controller-disconnected gaffs" is also an excellent description of his play from time to time.

Thanks for reading!
- Ben.Shelley

You could say the same about Erik Karlsson and a lot of other good defensemen but Jake being in Toronto always made him look worse. I think it’s a very good signing.

Jake Gardner is a real good offensive dman. An elite skater, when his back allows it, and puck carrier. He has a good hard low shot that seems to find the net. However, for all his natural talent, his hockey sense is lacking and seems prone to turnovers at the worst time. Hope he finds his groove in Carolina. He was a good dman most of the time for the Leafs.

Nice blog Ben, really appreciated the way you handled some of the negative stuff, well done without making waves, lol Thanks poisonedheart37 as well for your final post, very encouraging, unlike the Philly site where every time you post something someone jumps all over you and the rest of the keyboard warriors start to bully. Like your blogs Ben, thanks.
I think Gardiner will be fine now that he is out of Toronto where the pressure is never ending. He has great wheels, that is for sure.
- joegreif17

Thank you for all the kind words!

Yeah, like you said, I think being out of Toronto could help him (though he did seem to genuinely enjoy his time with the Leafs).

You could say the same about Erik Karlsson and a lot of other good defensemen but Jake being in Toronto always made him look worse. I think it’s a very good signing.
- shack67

Totally agree.