Player's Profile
Picture Courtesy of www.mynhldraft.com
- Name: Jake Gardiner
- Position: D
- Shoots: Left
- Height: 6-2
- Weight: 173 lbs
- Birthdate: 1990-07-04
- Eligible for Draft: 2008
- Drafted: 2008
- Hometown: Minnetonka, Minnesota
- Acquired: 1st round (#17 overall), 2008
- Playing In: NCAA
Jake Gardiner
Prospect Grade: 7.5 C (About Prospect Grades)
Profile Contributed By: HF Staff
History
2007-08: Gardiner completed an excellent career at Minnetonka High School, where he served as one of the team’s captains. He helped guide the Skippers to a Section 6AA Championship game appearance and a gold division Schwan Cup tournament title. Gardiner led Minnetonka with 48 points (20 goals, 28 assists), averaging 1.92 points per game. Gardiner was a finalist for the prestigious Mr. Hockey award. In the summer of 2007, Gardiner was a member of Team USA’s U-18 Select team that participated in the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Talent Analysis
Gardiner is a versatile offensive defenseman with size, quick feet and great hands. He was quickly able to adjust and adapt to playing on the blueline after having played much of his career as a forward. Gardiner has demonstrated remarkably sound and smart positional play. He utilizes his speed and hockey instincts to play the defensive position effectively. It is further enhanced by his tremendous on-ice awareness, and his ability to read and react to developing plays accordingly. Depending upon how well his development progresses at the collegiate level, Gardiner could eventually blossom into a complete defenseman who is equally adept on both sides of the puck. Gardiner’s skating is one of his best attributes. He is very agile and has tremendously quick feet that can be seen particularly in his transitioning. He combines long, fluid strides with good pivots and explosive speed.
Not only does he have great poise and patience with the puck, but he has shown that he can be quite creative with it too. His outstanding puck distribution skills also make him a very good quarterback on the power play. Another standout feature about Gardiner is his shot. He possesses a very hard shot with a quick release, and has no trouble getting pucks to the net. He’ll also shoot as often as the opportunity presents itself.
At 6’2/178 lbs, Gardiner has good size and strength that he also uses to his advantage, both offensively and defensively. He can finish his checks very well. Where Gardiner is particularly dangerous are in the areas in front of the net and along the boards. He is strong on his skates and is a difficult player to move off of the puck. And coupled with his size, speed and long reach, he can also be just as tough to beat. As his body matures, Gardiner will become an even more dominant and effective force on the blueline.
Future
Future Analysis Coming Soon...
Stats
Stats Coming Soon...
Profile Last Updated: September, 2nd 2008
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