Jake William Gardiner (born July 4, 1990) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently playing for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has also played for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was drafted 17th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Early life Gardiner was born in Minnesota to parents Jill and John Gardiner. His father ran a printing business and coached Jake's ice hockey teams. Playing career Early career Gardiner played ice hockey at Minnetonka High School. Prior to his senior year at Minnetonka High School, Gardiner switched from forward to defense on the advice of Minnesota State University, Mankato coach Troy Jutting. In his senior year, Gardiner was named a top-10 finalist for the Mr. Hockey Award and was later drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round, 17th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Despite his high draft place, he then attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In his freshman season with the Badgers, Gardiner was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team. As an alternate captain with the Badgers during the 2010–2011 season, Gardiner was named to the All-WCHA Second Team. While with the Badgers, on February 9, 2011, Anaheim traded Gardiner, along with Joffrey Lupul and a conditional fourth-round draft pick in 2013, to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for defenseman François Beauchemin. Gardiner chose to forgo his senior season with the Badgers and instead signed a three-year entry level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Professional Toronto Maple Leafs Gardiner started the 2011–12 season with the Leafs, scoring his first career NHL goal on January 24, 2012, against Al Montoya of the New York Islanders. After his rookie campaign where he led rookie defensemen in scoring, Gardiner was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. Gardiner started his second season with the Toronto Marlies, due to the NHL Lockout. He posted 31 points in 43 games in the AHL, and then, once the NHL started up, he had 4 assists in 12 games. While playing with the Marlies, Gardiner suffered a concussion on December 8 and was out of the lineup for a month to recover. On May 6, 2013, Gardiner became the first Toronto Maple Leaf to score a home Stanley Cup playoff goal since Mats Sundin scored in a 3–2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on May 4, 2004, a span