We’re a few days from entering week three of free agency in the NHL. A handful of second-tier options remain available on the open market at this point. One of the names that stand out is defenseman Jake Gardiner. The former Toronto Maple Leaf defender remains without a deal as the top blueliner to hit the open market this summer.
It’s surprising it has taken this long for Gardiner to find his next team, but there are some legitimate concerns with his future. At the top of the list is the back injury that he battled all last season with the Leafs.