If that’s the case, Jake Gardiner will be sorely missed.
Just like last year, the Toronto Maple Leafs were eliminated from the playoffs in the seventh game of their first-round matchup against the Boston Bruins. And, just like last year, Jake Gardiner was at the centre of a mishap that was a focal point of the season-ending loss.
Unlike last year, however, the future of Gardiner’s time in Toronto is far less clear, with his contract set to expire on July 1st. Based on the cap crunch that is likely to hit the Leafs in the offseason, that means he could become a casualty of the lack of available cap space to pay him.