Maple Leafs sign Jake Gardiner to 5-year, $20.25-million contract extension

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have eschewed the bridge contract in locking up puck-moving defenseman Jake Gardiner with a long-term contract. From Sportsnet's Chris Johnston:

The Maple Leafs have since confirmed the extension. 

The 24-year-old Gardiner managed 10 goals and 31 points last season, while leading the club in even-strength ice-time per game and shot-attempt differential. 

Gardiner's new contract purchases two of the defenseman's unrestricted free agent seasons, which could prove a mammoth bargain depending on Gardiner's development and how high the upper limit of the NHL salary cap is set at for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. It's a very interesting gamble, especially considering Gardiner's ability to produce offense from the back-end and help drive play at even-strength.