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NHL Rumors: 5 best fits for Jake Gardiner in NHL free agency

By Simon Vacca

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 20: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner #51 returns to the locker room at an NHL game against the Florida Panthers at the Scotiabank Arena on December 20, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 20: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner #51 returns to the locker room at an NHL game against the Florida Panthers at the Scotiabank Arena on December 20, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – MARCH 26: Jake Gardiner #51 of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Sam Reinhart #23 of the Buffalo Sabres battle on the boards during the second period at the Air Canada Centre on March 26, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – MARCH 26: Jake Gardiner #51 of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Sam Reinhart #23 of the Buffalo Sabres battle on the boards during the second period at the Air Canada Centre on March 26, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /

3. Buffalo Sabres

Current defensive core: Rasmus Ristolainen, Zach Bogosian, Marco Scandella, Colin Miller, Brandon Montour, Matt Hunwick, Rasmus Dahlin, Casey Nelson, Jake McCabe

Why a move makes sense: The Sabres have quietly managed to assemble a D-core that is passable at worst and well above average at best. Inserting Gardiner into a mix fronted by Ristolainen, Montour, Miller and Dahlin would undoubtedly provide Jason Botterill’s franchise with one of the flashiest puck-moving back ends in the hockey world, as each of the players in question play a high-risk, high-reward style that often veers on the side of the latter.

Whether the Sabres are willing to spend big again after the Jeff Skinner deal remains a matter of debate. Decisions about the future of Zemgus Girgensons, Johan Larsson, Evan Rodrigues and Jake McCabe are coming, with resolution on Casey Mittelstadt, Sam Reinhart, Jimmy Vesey, the aforementioned Montour and others looming on the not-so-distant horizon. Adding Gardiner would be a massive upgrade, yes — but the question of asset management ensures that this possibility is up in the air.

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