Having tallied 82 points in 144 games – an average of 47 per 82 – over the last two seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, many expected the 29-year-old defenseman to cash in big on the open market. And in short order.
Yet here we are nearly two months into free agency and Gardiner remains unsigned. This has led to speculation Gardiner has a handshake agreement in place with a team and is just waiting to sign or, even more interestingly, is still hoping to return to the Maple Leafs.
Lance Hornby added a little fuel to the latter’s fire in a recent article for The Toronto Sun.