Maple Leafs GM Nonis on Gardiner extension: 'We're just scratching the surface with him'
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Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis offered some comments on defenseman Jake Gardiner on Tuesday night, shortly after it was announced that the club had signed the 24-year-old puck-moving defender to a five-year contract extension worth $20.25 million.
"He took strides last year," said the Maple Leafs executive, per Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun. "We're just scratching the surface with him."
Nonis also commented on the reputedly fractious relationship between Gardiner and Maple Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle, suggesting that it's much ado about nothing:
Nonis on Gardiner getting along with Carlyle: "His minutes were up, his plus minus was respectable. There were a lot of positive ticks."
— Lance Hornby (@sunhornby) July 30, 2014