Max Gardiner
Image: Paul Hebert/Icon SMI

Max Gardiner

Hometown:

Edina Minnesota

Team:

St. Louis Blues

Currently Playing In:

NCAA

Birthday:

1992-05-07
Position:

C
Eligible for draft:

2010
Shoots:

Left
Drafted:

2010
Height:

6-3
Acquired:

3rd round (74th overall), 2010
Weight:

190 lbs.
Prospect Talent Score
7.0

About Prospect Talent Score and Probability of Success»

Probability of Success
  • D

History

2009-10: Max Gardiner played for Minnetonka (MN) High School.  In 23 games for the Skippers, Gardiner scored 22 goals and added 32 assists for 54 points on the season.  He registered a +35 rating for the season.  Gardiner was a finalist for the Mr. Hockey Award given to Minnesota's top high school hockey player.  Brother of Anaheim Ducks prospect, Jake Gardiner.

2010-11: Gardiner made the jump directly from Minnesota HS hockey to the NCAA, appearing in 17 games for the University of Minnesota as an 18-year-old freshman. He scored 1 goal with 2 assists and was -3 with 24 PMs for the Gophers. Minnesota finished a disappointing fifth in the WCHA and missed the NCAA tournament after falling to Alaska-Anchorage in the first round of the WCHA playoffs.

2011-12: Gardiner returned to junior hockey after seeing limited time at the University of Minnesota as a freshman – skating for the USHL's Dubuque Fighting Saints. He scored 12 goals with 14 assists in 50 games and was minus-seven with 29 penalty minutes. The Fighting Saints finished third in the East Division and reached the second round of the playoffs. Gardiner was minus-three in five playoff games with 1 goal and 3 assists. He committed to playing college hockey at Penn State in 2012-13.

 

Talent Analysis

Gardiner has offensive skill combined with a good compete level.  He is more of a playmaker than a goal-scorer.  It remains to be seen if his offensive game will advance at the pro level, but he has some potential as a power forward if he improves his overall strength.

 

Future

After a year in the USHL, Gardiner will play his sophomore year at the NCAA level with the Penn State Nittany Lions and is expected to play top line minutes while helping provide offense for the team. The big center has two more years of development to improve his overall game.

 

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