“Worked my butt off” – Jake Gardiner ready to bounce back with Hurricanes after missing last season

“Worked my butt off” – Jake Gardiner ready to bounce back with Hurricanes after missing last season

Jake Gardiner ready to start NHL season with Carolina Hurricanes

Carolina Hurricanes defenceman Jake Gardiner is hungrier than ever to ravish his opponents with his playstyle in the upcoming NHL season. The 32-year-old missed the entire 2021-22 season as he underwent hip and back surgeries. He last stepped foot on ice on May 10, 2021. He was cleared to return to the ice in early June and is currently participating in the Da Beauty League.

Da Beauty League is a 4-on-4 summer hockey league for the National Hockey League, American Hockey League, and the NCAA Division I Players residing in Minnesota. On Wednesday Gardiner stated about his missed time, “It was hard”. “I’ve worked my butt off and done countless treatments and rehabs and exercises to be ready to get back.”

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Jake Gardiner ready to participate in the next season

Jake Gardiner ready to start NHL season with Carolina Hurricanes
Jake Gardiner ready to start the NHL season with Carolina Hurricanes

The veteran has 10 NHL seasons played under his wing and is on his way to return to the Carolina Hurricanes with whom he has participated for 2 seasons after playing his first eight with the Toronto Maple Leafs. At the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal, Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said, ”Barring anything unforeseen, he’ll come to camp and we’ll go from there”. Gardiner has one season remaining on his 4-years $16.2 million contract signed in 2019.

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In the past season, the Hurricanes have lost a few of their defenceman so they are busy rebuilding their defense as of now. As per nhl.com, defenceman Brady Skjei said, “I think ‘Burnsy’ or [Gardiner] can fill that role right away”. “We know what Jake brings to our team, and it’s great to get him back, but I think having a guy like Burns, who has had an unbelievable career and can play some big minutes for us, it’s going to be really fun to see. I think he’s going to have a really good year. He’s going to fit right in with us.”

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