On Friday, defenseman Jake Gardiner signed a four-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes.
It was a long summer for Gardiner who had 30 points in the 2018-19 season on 27 assists.
Defenseman Jake Gardiner – photo by Lewis Bleiman
The long wait for a new contract was based on his ailing back; he missed 20 games in the regular season and played all seven games in the post season with two assists.
“I don’t really feel like going through this again, and I thought this would be a really good opportunity with a really good team and a great place to live,” Gardiner said. “It seemed like a great fit for me and my family.
“It was an interesting summer. I wasn’t too stressed out just because I believed in myself and knew that something was going to work out. It was a lot harder on my wife than anyone. She was saying stuff like, ‘Are we going to the KHL?’ and all that kind of stuff. It was good to finally get done and hopefully find a place to live soon and put her mind at ease. … I was pretty relaxed throughout the process, which I probably shouldn’t have been, but that’s just how it was, to be honest.”
The fear has been that Gardiner has lost some speed and finer points to his skating. The Canes seem to have satisfied themselves that Gardiner can and will return to form.
“Jake is a solid, veteran blueliner with a proven history of contributing offensively, including on the power play,” Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said. “He’s had options this summer, but ultimately decided that Carolina is his best fit, and we’re thrilled to have him here.”
The contract is worth just north of $4 million annually, about the same as he was making with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
With a summer to work on his skating and his back, Gardiner should be ready to skate the Canes’ blueline this season.
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