From riding shotgun on the mentors trip and joking with Morgan Rielly that the Leafs shouldn’t win, to admitting the Toronto market is ‘definitely a disadvantage,’ former defenceman Jake Gardiner opens up on the unique pressures of playing for the Blue and White.
Former Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake Gardiner had quite the experience in his time with Toronto.
Gardiner, who spent eight seasons with the Leafs from 2011-12 to 2018-19, spoke candidly to TSN’s Mark Masters on Wednesday about the unique pressures that come with playing in one of the NHL’s biggest markets. “
Yeah, I think it’s definitely a disadvantage. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t,” Gardiner said. “You don’t get the same coverage that you do in Toronto, obviously. It’s a smaller market [in Carolina], but at the same time, the fans are super passionate. Great place to play. Back to your original question. Yeah, I think it is more challenging to win there. As much as you can say you don’t listen to the outside noise, it’s in front of you every day.”
The comments came as Gardiner reflected on his recent experience as a mentor on the Leafs’ annual mentors trip in March. Gardiner joined the team for a road trip that included games in Boston and at home, riding the team bus to pre-game skate and spending time with current players, including close friend Morgan Rielly.
“It was bizarre honestly. It was really fun spending time with the guys and I got to ride on the team bus to pre-game skate so of course I rode at the back of the bus with Morgan and Johnny (Tavares) and Willie (Nylander) and those guys,” Gardiner recalled. “Unfortunately Auston (Matthews) was hurt at the time. But just fun to be a part of that culture again. I think most guys say once they get out of hockey, that’s what they miss most.”
Gardiner noted the physical and mental toll of the schedule even as a visitor. After a late return from Boston, arriving at Rielly’s house around 3 a.m., he was struck by how demanding the NHL grind remains.
“I was just thinking back to when I played. I’m like, ‘How did I do this? How do you guys do this?’ I didn’t even play a game. And I was just exhausted. And then they had a game the next day,” he said. “So it’s when you’re going through the grind, you don’t really think too much about it. But looking back, I’m like, geez, it’s a long season.”
The trip provided a lift for a Leafs team enduring a difficult season. Gardiner observed that the mentors trip offered good vibes, especially after wins. However, he injected some humour about the team’s standing while speaking with Rielly.
“I was telling Morgan, I’m like, ‘Hey, I don’t think we want to win these games right now. There’s a lot on the line here,’” Gardiner said with a laugh, acknowledging the strategic implications of the standings at the time.
Despite the challenges, Gardiner was encouraged by Rielly’s outlook. The long-time Maple Leaf has a young son at home, which Gardiner said helps put hockey in perspective.
“He’s doing well. He’s obviously got a young son at home who’s the cutest kid in the world. And once you have kids, it puts things into perspective,” Gardiner noted. “I know it has been a tough year. It was a tough year for the Leafs. Having that first overall draft pick, I think, will help. And bringing the vibes up a little in the locker room and in the community. But, yeah, he’s doing well. He’s still a heck of a player.”
Gardiner and Rielly go back to the beginning of the latter’s NHL career. The two were roommates when Rielly broke into the league. Gardiner has watched Rielly mature into a leader who deeply cares about the franchise.
“I think for most guys, it means a lot. I think playing in Toronto is one of the, if not the coolest markets to play in,” Gardiner said. “You feel like the world’s caving in on you when things are going bad, but you know, when they’re going good, they’re going great. So it means a lot to them.”
The former defenceman addressed the broader conversation about whether the intense market pressure holds the team back. He pointed to Mitch Marner’s strong playoff performance with the Vegas Golden Knights as evidence that talent shines in different environments.
“I think we all are starting to realize the guys in the room knew how good he was in Toronto and how big of a piece he was going to be leaving the Leafs, as you saw how the season went,” Gardiner said. “So that was unfortunate. I am super happy for him, though, playing on an awesome team and just dominating the playoffs. Doesn’t surprise me one bit. You know, heck of a player, heck of a person. Great guy to have in the room.”
Gardiner also reflected on his own final years in Toronto, where scrutiny from fans and media intensified.
“It was tough. And like I said, when you’re in it, it feels like the world’s caving in on you a bit,” he explained. “And then when you step out of it, especially now, I’ve been seven, almost eight years removed from Toronto, really what matters the most is… how your teammates view you, how your coaching staff views you. It’s tough to do that at the time. Looking back it’s a lot easier. I’m not in it. I’m not competing day in day out. So I think it’s hard but you gotta try to remind these guys that you know you’re only in this for a short period of time and like I said the only thing that really matters is your family, your teammates and your coaches and I guess your belief in yourself.”
The conversation circled back to the upcoming NHL Draft Lottery and the potential impact of a first-overall pick. Gardiner lived through that scenario in 2016 when the Leafs finished with the league’s worst record but won the lottery to select Auston Matthews.
“So the year we essentially tanked was one of the worst years to be a part of. You know, was not fun at all and I’m sure that’s what those guys were going through this year unfortunately,” Gardiner recalled. “But I do remember when we got Matthews or when we got the first overall pick which was slated for Matthews, I was fist-pumping in my buddy’s house. And so it’s a big deal. I mean, it can turn around a franchise, as you saw when we got Matts. I mean, it’s a big deal, whether that’s Gavin McKenna or else. You know, I think there’s a – I don’t even know who’s supposed to be the top couple picks, but Gavin McKenna is an impressive player, and he can turn the market around pretty quickly.”
Gardiner’s insights highlight the dual nature of playing for the Maple Leafs. The market offers unmatched highs but delivers crushing lows when results falter. His return as a mentor offered a reminder of the camaraderie that persists beyond the ice, even as he acknowledged the unique difficulties that come with wearing the blue and white. For a franchise once again looking toward a high draft pick to reset, Gardiner’s perspective serves as both a cautionary tale and a message of hope. The pressure never fully disappears, but the right additions and internal focus can shift the narrative.
Today, Gardiner works at Camber Road, a company that provides non-dilutive equipment financing to help VC-backed hardware startups and capital-intensive companies scale without giving up equity.