It's hard not to be impressed by the way Jake Gardiner has played this season.
At 21 years of age, the University of Wisconsin product has not only surprised many by being a mainstay on the Toronto Maple Leafs blueline, but by the way he has shown no problems adjusting to the pro game.
He has averaged more than 23 minutes of ice a game this month, and in the last 7 games has played at least 20 minutes each and every time.
For a kid you hasn't played more than 41 games in a season, you would think he would be hitting the proverbial rookie wall. Not so.
"Hes one of those types of kids who is never going to get tired," said his coach Ron Wilson. "I haven't seen him have an off day even in practice. He's out there flying around- even in practice, and he's gong to get better with experience."
"I just try to keep playing my game and playing the way I have been," said Gardiner, who has 8 assists on the season. "I can get better each day. Right now I feel pretty good."
Give an assist here to his roommate Matt Frattin for helping - in part - make sure Gardiner is eating right.
You see Frattin's father ran an Italian bakery so Frattin knows his way around a kitchen.
"I gave him a couple of opportunities early," said Frattin. "But it wasn't up to par so I decided to take the reins in the kitchen."
Good thing cause Frattin is able to cook up steak, pasta and chicken - all staples for any young hockey player. Gardiner's speciality? Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
The smooth skating defenceman was a 1st round pick of the Anaheim Ducks. But with Cam Fowler playing so well, the Ducks felt they could make a move and dealt Gardiner last February to Toronto for Francois Beauchemin. The Leafs also got Joffrey Lupul in the transaction. Let's call this a win for the Leafs shall we.
It really has been quite a year for Gardiner who a year ago at this time was a junior in college playing hockey and wondering when he would make the jump to the pro ranks.
Still property of the Ducks at that time, the team sent up Scott Neidermayer to Wisconsin to meet up with Gardiner. The two talked about all things hockey - with Neidermayer telling Gardiner to keep working hard and he would be in the NHL sooner rather than later.
That meeting helped Gardiner realize he could make the jump to the pros.
"In my sophomore year in college I would let things get to me and get inside my head and I realized I couldn't play like that," said Gardiner. "I would be down the rest of the game. the only time I played well is when I got off to a good start. Now I try to let things go."
And that attitude has served Gardiner well.
Ask Frattin if he's surprised by Gardiner's early season success, and the answer is quite bluntly "no."
"He carries himself well with a lot of confidence and if he does that he plays to his best potential," said Frattin.
That has been good news for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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