Can Jake Gardiner still help the Hurricanes?

Just a few months ago, it seemed inconceivable that we’d ever see Jake Gardiner pull on a Carolina Hurricanes jersey again. After losing the entire 2021-22 season to surgeries on both of his hips as well as his back, many assumed that the Canes would find a way to work themselves out from under his contract — either by way of an asset-dump trade or potentially a buyout, if that opportunity had presented itself.

However, right around the start of free agency the narrative around Gardiner changed, which was a surprising to many considering what the uphill battle he’s facing on a return to form. For a team that’s firmly in a Stanley Cup window, it’s obviously a risky move to count on Gardiner…