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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 31: Jake Gardiner #51 of the Toronto Maple Leafs checks against Mark Scheifele #55 of the Winnipeg Jets during the second period at the Air Canada Centre on March 31, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – MARCH 31: Jake Gardiner #51 of the Toronto Maple Leafs checks against Mark Scheifele #55 of the Winnipeg Jets during the second period at the Air Canada Centre on March 31, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /

2. Winnipeg Jets

Current defensive core: Dustin Byfuglien, Dmitry Kulikov, Joshua Morrissey, Nathan Beaulieu, Sami Niku, Tucker Poolman, Neal Pionk

Why a move makes sense: As one of the NHL’s few teams that actually got worse after July 1, Kevin Cheveldayoff’s Jets are in need of a pick-me-up. The priority in the weeks ahead will definitely be extending Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor, along with advancing key decisions on the future of Andrew Copp and Neal Pionk. But the possibility of adding another blue liner is not outside the realm of possibility — especially considering the fact that the team recently lost depth at its back end in the form of Tyler Myers and Jacob Trouba.

Gardiner makes sense here for a host of reasons, as he would provide Winnipeg with solid puck-moving and a strong power play presence. Whether the Jets can afford him is certainly a topic of debate — he now stands as the top free agent target available — but it would be foolish to rule out the possibility of a move of this nature.

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