Which team will Jake Gardiner sign with?

With NHL training camp looming, the pressure will be on those remaining UFAs to find new contracts. Jake Gardiner is the top UFA still looking to sign with a team.

Speculation persists claiming Gardiner hopes to return with the Toronto Maple Leafs once they’ve re-signed Mitch Marner. Considering the Leafs’ salary-cap constraints and the high cost of signing Marner, that might not be possible.

There’s interest around the league in the 28-year-old defenseman. Possible suitors include the Arizona Coyotes, Montreal Canadiens, and Winnipeg Jets. He also suggested the Buffalo Sabres if they trade away blueliner Rasmus Ristolainen.

Latest Charlie McAvoy rumors

Boston Hockey Now: Will the Boston Bruins and unsigned restricted free agent defenseman Charlie McAvoy finally find common ground and strike a deal before training camp?

McAvoy, 21, just finished his entry-level contract in which he made an AAV of $1.2 million and carried a cap hit of $916,667. In February, reports suggested McAvoy turned down a long-term extension because he was looking for a contract similar to that of Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad. The Florida Panthers defenseman signed an eight-year, $60 million contract extension with a cap hit of $7.5 million which began in the 2017-18 season.

It’s been widely believed the Bruins were offering more in the range of a $5-5.5 million cap hit per season. However, thanks to the team’s current salary cap crunch and the fact that they still must sign fellow RFA defenseman Brandon Carlo, a bridge deal has been discussed more this past offseason. 

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