Gardiner Coming Home?

With Minnesota's own Jake Gardiner slated to go at pick No. 23 according to NHL Central Scouting, will the Minnesota Wild, at pick No. 24 be willing to bring him home?

Gardiner, a defenseman from Minnetonka High School, is slated to play at Wisconsin in the WCHA next year.

Gardiner is an offensive— minded defenseman, who’s not too over aggressive.

He reminds me of a Brent Burns type, who isn't willing to back down like Brent. He's got a great wrist shot from the blue line, and executes on the power play like no other player I've seen in my six years of watching High School Hockey.

Gardiner’s faster than Brent, and reminds me of Wes Walz in that aspect of his game. Not only in his speed is he like Wes, but also he's also virtually never out of position.

He flat out saves goals with his speed and great physique alone, he doesn't need physical play, but he has it.

He's the total package, which is why Gardiner is a good fit for the Wild's system.

He's not a bruising defenseman, but the Wild have tried that before and failed miserably. I really think Gardiner is NHL ready, and ready to play the Wild's defensive minded system for that matter.

If Risebrough deems he isn't he can be rest assured the best College Hockey conference in America will hone his skills.