3 Best Reasons the Toronto Maple Leafs Should Retain Jake Gardiner

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake Gardiner is one of those rare players that fans usually either rally around or want to run out of town on the next train. Gardiner has tantalizing skill when he's at his best—or consistent brain cramps when he's at his worst.

The former first-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks is certainly talented enough to be a top-four NHL defender. In fact, paired with a reliable stay-at-home partner, he might even be a top-pairing defender in time. The key is "in time."

While it may seem like Gardiner is unlikely to improve further, Leafs fans should remain patient with the Minnetonka, Minnesota, native. Let's take a look at the three best reasons why the Leafs should retain Jake Gardiner for the foreseeable future.

1. Gardiner is Young and Can Improve

While Gardiner seems like a young veteran in some ways because he's played parts of four seasons with the Leafs, he's still played just 246 NHL games. That's just over three full NHL seasons. On top of this, he played just 57 AHL games. He is not a seasoned pro with much of his development at the NHL level, which is not a positive thing for the overwhelming majority of NHL defenders.

Yes, there are rare talents like Aaron Ekblad who can enter the league at 18 and be dominant. While the Ekblads of the NHL are few and far between, Gardiner, who turns 25 in July, should be considered still in a developmental stage and deserves at least one more full season before he should be assessed.

Gardiner has produced a respectable 89 points in his NHL career, including 21 goals. Without question, he has more to give, especially on an improved team.

2. The Leafs Have Been Awful During Gardiner's Tenure

Much like it is dangerous to overvalue a player on a great team, the same can be said for many Leafs, but inversely. Gardiner has played on some terrible defensive teams in his four NHL seasons. Without question, his gaffes do stand out, yet it is important to remember that he has been one of the team's best defenders over the past four years.

While Morgan Rielly shows a lot of promise and Dion Phaneuf remains the team's best overall defender, Gardiner is one of the team's best rearguards after the February trade of Cody Franson. Gardiner's SAT percentage, the NHL's new equivalent stat of Corsi For Percentage, is 49.8, which puts him first on the team among current defenders.

That possession number is telling and indicates that Gardiner can be a vitally important player. The Leafs need much more of this, not less. Most importantly, his SAT percentage should improve as the players around him improve as well. Until they do, the Leafs need Gardiner to help tilt the ice in their favour, at least some of the time.

3. Gardiner Fits Well Into a Rebuild

It's no secret that the Leafs are going to attempt to rebuild their roster. They cannot go scorched earth since good young players like James van Riemsdyk, Morgan Rielly, Nazem Kadri and, yes, Jake Gardiner are worth retaining and building around.

There is room for veterans, but younger veterans, like van Riemsdyk, Kadri and Gardiner, are good conduits to the older veterans as the team readies to integrate young players.

Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Despite being drafted by the Ducks, Gardiner has really only known the Leafs organization. Young players need to see that the organization has faith in players that warrant it. Gardiner has been a good soldier during lean times, and at just 24 years of age, he deserves a chance to be part of a revamped team in Canada's largest market.

If the Leafs can add a dynamic coach who wants to play possession-type hockey, Gardiner is a prime candidate on the back end. He'll make mistakes, but as his teammates get better, they can help minimize the effects of these errors as he improves with them.

Mobile, puck-moving defencemen who can score are a valued commodity in every organization. 

Giving up on Gardiner at this stage of his career just doesn't make sense for the Toronto Maple Leafs as they prepare for the 2015-16 regular season. He should be a Maple Leaf next September.

All stats can be found NHL.com.