Given that the Maple Leafs have a very good record (28-15-2), it’s understandable that fans are angry and restless.The other night’s performance against Colorado certainly was ugly, but it lead to something worse than just losing.
For all his mystifying decisions with the puck and lack of physicality, Jake Gardiner is a good defenseman. Very good. Defensemen that skate, munch minutes and put up points like him (he’s notched 43 and 52 points the past couple of years) are a valuable commodity in this league. For the old school plus/minus loving fans, he’s also plus 18 this year while playing with Nikita Zaitsev.