Breathing a sigh of relief: in keeping Jake Gardiner, it’s clear the Leafs are building around a mobile defense….

The signing a few days ago of young Jake Gardiner would seem (though it’s not a certainty, of course) to put to rest the speculation that he might be traded at some point in the near future.  While I did not include him on my “must keep” list at the end of last season (it was a short list—I think Bernier, Kessel, van Riemsdyk and Rielly were the only players I cited at the time), it’s clear he is a talented individual that brings a lot to the Leaf table.

The reference to a possible trade involving Gardiner relates to the ongoing speculation since this past spring that he and Nazem Kadri seemed to the the Leafs in high demand, if the blue and white were leaning toward adding some high-impact veteran forwards to the roster mix. Whether those reports were remotely accurate or not, nothing has occurred along those lines. That doesn't mean trades can't or won't happen at some point, but I sense Shanahan wants to see this roster in action, and especially the kids, before anything drastic is considered.

I recall that there was a mild concern among some Leaf supporters in the past that we may not need two similar types of offensive defensemen, given that Morgan Rielly is also bursting with a desire (and ability) to jump into the play. But I don’t believe, and I’ve said this before, that it’s an issue to have two guys on your blueline who can make a significant offensive contribution.  It’s the old story: if they play with the right partner who can be there to cover up for most of the turnovers that might be created in transition, why not run with defenders who can move the puck and create possession—and scoring chances?

I’ve certainly mentioned here before that while Gardiner is young and should only get better, I’ve been concerned with his ‘wide circle’ approach at times.  That is, he doesn’t always make the quick stop and start you like to see in some situations, including when he loses the puck, but his make-up speed is exceptional so he seems to get back into the play anyway.  My bigger concern with Gardiner is whether he can be physical enough in certain situations—in the corners, along the boards and in front of his net. But like Rielly, he has enormous gifts in other areas. Scott Niedermayer was not the most physical defenseman in the world, yet he was a Hall-of-Fame defenseman with the Devils and Ducks.  So Gardiner may be just fine. (I've posted before that, in some ways, Gardiner reminds me of former Leaf stalwart Carl Brewer, seen at right. Brewer was a very skilled and mobile defenseman who had an old-fashioned nasty streak that Gardiner doesn't have.  Leaf fans of the time will recall that Brewer played superbly in the late 1950s and early '60s alongside rugged Bobby Baun on the Maple Leaf blueline.)

You have to think the ceiling is awfully high for both Rielly, now 20, and Gardiner, 24.  I’ve written about Rielly’s instincts, and his rare ability to, for example, block a pass in front of his own net and suddenly be leading a rush going the other way. Not many guys can do that.

There may well be times when both these players will cause frustration in their own zone for Leafs fans and the team’s coaching staff (maybe Gardiner more than Rielly; we’ll see as they both progress).  But on balance, they both have dynamic skills.  I’m relieved that Shanahan and Nonis have not moved Gardiner, for it’s always a concern when the Leafs trade away talented young defensemen.

If Gardiner commits to going beyond using his natural instincts and talent and to doing the things that the coaching staff wants and needs him to do, the Leafs should have two extremely valuable, mobile ‘kiddie corps’ defensemen to build around for years to come.