Leafs send D Gardiner down to AHL’s Marlies

Jake Gardiner is expected to be in the Leafs lineup Saturday against the New Jersey Devils.

Jake Gardiner’s return to the Toronto Maple Leafs was a short lived one.

The Maple Leafs defenceman was sent down to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, the team confirmed in a press release on Friday.

Gardiner, 22, suffered a concussion while playing for the Marlies during the lockout on Dec. 8 and the team would like him to play more minutes in the AHL before returning to the Leafs.

Gardiner played two games with the Maple Leafs this season where he registered four shots on goal and a minus-1 rating.

It remains unclear if team will call anyone up to replace Gardiner on the NHL roster.

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