> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Wednesday’s FTB: What’s Jake Gardiner up to? - URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/toronto-maple-leafs-news-jake-gardiner-contract-nhl-free-agents/ - Published: 2019-07-17T09:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2019-07-17T09:00:00.000Z - Description: This FTB will be Marner free. Starting now. - Author: Adam Selvig - Tags: From The Branches, #chorus, #Import 2023-04-05 10:50 Good morning fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey club! Have you noticed all of the talk has been about what RFA’s are up to lately? I mean, those are some pretty good players, but there’s one UFA that has been mysteriously quiet. After ending his season with a back injury - terrible timing, you want to get injured AFTER you sign a long term deal, not before - Jake Gardiner has been missing. Yeah, he played in the series against Boston, but there’s no way he was healed. Gardiner is unsigned, after reportedly being connected to the Vancouver Canucks, as well as seeking a longer term deal. Neither of those things have come to fruition. with Gardiner joining a few bigger name free agents still without deals - though he’s the only one under 30 - he’s 28. The other UFA defenders on the market are a mixture of big names looking for one last deal, or players who are just names you may remember from that one game the Leafs played against; Niklas Kronall (38), Dan Girardi (35), and Dion Phanefu (34) make up the former and Ben Hutton, Adam McQuaid, Joe Morrow, and Ryan Murphy are a good bunch of the latter. For a full list of UFA defenders, you can click [here](https://www.capfriendly.com/browse/free-agents/2020/points/all/defense/ufa?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) and see it at Cap Friendly. With such slim pickings on defense, it’s curious to see Jake still out there and available. Are teams really worried about his back? Maybe he’s waiting for the Maple Leafs to make an offer or tell him they’re really not going to bring him back. If teams are scared of his injury, maybe the Leafs will be able to get him on a sweetheart ‘show me’ deal so he can earn that big money next summer. Crazier things have happened. Here’s the news. --- #### Related [Paying the Piper: How Negotiations Will Impact The Leafs Salary Distribution](https://mackinawstats.home.blog/2019/07/07/paying-the-piper-how-negotiations-will-impact-the-leafs-salary-distribution/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) --- Is this a re-post? Whatever, it’s new to me. Mackinaw Stats is good, so it’s worth it. --- #### Related [Home | 51leafs](https://leafscentre2.wixsite.com/51leafs/home/mitch-marner-is-an-elite-penalty-killer?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) --- It’s good that there’s no title up there. Keeps me honest. 51 Leafs looks at a certain RFA and his penalty killing. --- #### Related [Toronto Maple Leafs 2019 Offseason: Where have they improved and where do the question marks remain? | Maple Leafs Hotstove](https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2019/07/15/toronto-maple-leafs-2019-offseason/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) --- Back up goal, bottom 3 D, and 3rd line LW. --- #### Related [How concerning is the Flyers’ goaltending situation heading into 2019-20?](https://www.broadstreethockey.com/2019/7/16/20695173/how-concerning-is-the-philadelphia-flyers-goaltending-heading-into-2019-carter-hart-brian-elliott?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) --- Hopefully very (sorry Annie). --- #### Related [A short-term deal with Gardiner still makes sense for the Sabres](https://www.diebytheblade.com/2019/7/12/20692175/buffalo-sabres-adding-jake-gardiner-would-still-make-sense-for-the-free-agency?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) --- Well that’s topical! --- #### Related [Calgary Flames Sign Rinat Valiev To A One Year Deal](https://www.matchsticksandgasoline.com/2019/7/16/20696584/calgary-flames-sign-rinat-valiev-to-a-one-year-deal-stockton-heat?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) --- Speaking of former Leafs defenders... --- #### Related [Steven Stamkos is the best shooter of the salary cap era](https://www.rawcharge.com/2019/7/16/18637165/steven-stamkos-is-the-best-shooter-of-the-salary-cap-era-tampa-bay-lightning-nhl-analysis?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) --- Big words. --- #### Related [Blackhawks trade Artem Anisimov to Senators for Zack Smith](https://www.secondcityhockey.com/2019/7/16/20518939/chicago-blackhawks-trade-artem-anisimov-ottawa-senators-zack-smith-nhl-transactions?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) --- Hey, a trade! --- #### Related [Ken Campbell is not happy about Robby Fabbri’s day with the Stanley Cup](https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2019/7/16/20696453/ken-campbell-the-hockey-news-robby-fabbri-stanley-cup-spaghetti-dogs?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) --- Not surprising. Ken’s also the guy who pulls the “DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?” card at arena security. Alright folks, enjoy the day!