Defenseman Jake Gardiner was supposed to be at the top of the free agent class when it comes to blueliners possibly getting around $7million a season. However Gardiner remained unsigned for months until this past weekend. The defenseman signed a four year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes didn't receive the pay raise he was hoping for, in fact he didn't receive a pay raise at all. However that wouldn't have been the case if Gardiner signed with one of the Leafs' biggest rivals, the Montreal Canadiens. Alexandre Pratt of La Presse in Quebec reports that the Canadiens offered Gardiner a three year deal worth $5.25million a season.
Darren Dreger of TSN reports that the Maple Leafs were never really in on Gardiner.
