The Montreal Canadiens biggest need heading into this offseason was to fix the left defence. The best free agent available this summer to fill that specific role was former Toronto Maple Leafs defender Jake Gardiner. It was expected he would sign a huge contract with somebody on July 1, but here we are in September and Gardiner remains a free agent.
The 29 year old has played his entire career with the Maple Leafs to this point. He was initially drafted by the Anaheim Ducks and was later dealt to the Leafs with Joffrey Lupul for Francois Beauchemin.