Injured Gardiner returns to Leafs’ practice

According to a report from Toronto Maple Leafs insider Mark Masters of TSN, injured Leafs blue liner Jake Gardiner has rejoined the team for practice, albeit wearing a red “no-contact” jersey.

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Suffice it to say, this is great news for a team that’s struggled mightily in Gardiner’s absence. Gardiner has been out nearly a month with a back injury but appears to be nearing a return to action.

“He’s moving really well,” said fellow injured blueliner Travis Dermott. “I’ve seen him progress exponentially.”

 No official update on Gardiner’s status from the team, but with two games off between games there’s a possibility that he could draw into the lineup this weekend against the Ottawa Senators.