Report: NHL insider drops a bomb on Jake Gardiner's situation

With the signing of William Nylander this season, the Toronto Maple Leafs might have a hard time signing key players this off-season, and one of those players is defenceman Jake Gardiner who is on pace for most likely his second 40+ point season. The question is should he stay or should he go?

With Mitch Marner's and Auston Matthews' contracts expiring coming July 1st, not many people have talked about the Toronto Maple Leafs' top scoring defenceman's situation for this July 1st. Gardiner's 5-year, $20 million contract expires on July 1st and is expected to be asking as much as $7 million on the market. If the Leafs decide to keep him, what is he exactly worth?

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman stated what could happen in his latest 31 thoughts series for Sportsnet'

Toronto is going to take a shot at keeping Jake Gardiner. The odds are long, but he likes it there and they like him. He leads the Maple Leafs with 19:46 at even strength per night. They will off him term and be generous with bonus and structure. It comes down to how much he's willing to leave on the table. 

 Should the Maple Leafs trade or try and re-sign him this off-season?