Babcock piles on Jake Gardiner in post-game press conference

Last night’s Game 7 loss at the hands of the Boston Bruins must have felt like a cruel joke to the Toronto Maple Leafs and their fanbase. Not only did the Leafs blow it in the biggest game of the season for the second year in a row, but the eventual game winning goal by the Bruins was the direct fault of Leafs blue liner Jake Gardiner… again.

You may recall that it was Gardiner who got turnstiled by Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk for the go-ahead goal in Game 7 a year ago:

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Well… last night it was Gardiner with an awful turnover to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead and the eventual game winner:

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Fair to say that Game 7s aren’t really Jake Gardiner’s thing…

With the offseason now here for the Leafs and with Gardiner potentially headed to free agency, Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas has some big decisions to make. Does he bring Gardiner back? If so, at what cost?

Teammate Morgan Rielly clearly feels that Gardiner is a valued contributor on this Leafs team and wants his fellow blue liner back for 2019-20.

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Leafs head coach Mike Babcock didn’t hold back in summing up Gardiner’s play though, saying it’s just “wasn’t good enough.”

Check it out:

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Uh… if he’s not mobile… why are you playing him? Another misstep from Babcock? In any case this will hardly help Leafs fans get over another disappointing Game 7 performance from Gardiner and the Leafs.