Gardiner still has a chance

Jake Gardiner has made the cut - so far, that is.

The young defenceman who has been so impressive through training camp and early in the pre-season, survived the latest round of cuts that brought the Toronto Maple Leafs roster down to a manageable 29 players.

Others were not so lucky, although really, there weren't any big surprises. Among the forwards who were sent to the Toronto Marlies were Luca Caputi, Joe Colborne, Jerry D'Amigo, Ryan Hamilton, Marcel Mueller, Kenny Ryan, Greg Scott and veteran Mike Zigomanis. Defencemen sent to the Marlies include Jesse Blacker, Jeff Finger, Simon Gysbers, Korbinian Holzer and Juraj Mikus; while goalie Mark Owuya was also sent down.

Colborne, obtained from the Boston Bruins in the Tomas Kaberle trade at last year's trade deadline, is a work in progress. The big centre, who can also play wing, was given a long look in training camp, but it was decided he can benefit from playing big minutes in the American Hockey League. He had eight goals and 16 points with the Marlies in 20 games last season, but his lack of speed is a concern at the NHL level.

Gardiner, meanwhile, continues to turn heads. The puck-rushing defender's confidence has grown in leaps and bounds with each passing day and he's making a serious stab at making a blueline that is already pretty crowded. Acquired from Anaheim along with Joffrey Lupul in the trade for Francois Beauchemin last year, Gardiner is a freewheeling defenceman who likes to rush the puck, but also has the speed to get back to his position in a pinch. He has a creative side that no other defenceman on the Leafs can match.

"He has been a lot better than I expected him to be," said coach Ron Wilson. "In the rookie games he was a little tentative, but his confidence is really growing. I knew he could skate. I saw some of these things last year with the Marlies, but that kid can really skate and it gets him out of a lot of danger. He's really putting heat on the other defencemen for sure."

The Maple Leafs expect Luke Schenn, Dion Phaneuf, Cody Franson, John-Michael Liles and Keith Aulie to be their top five to start the year with Mike Komisarek, Matt Lashoff and Carl Gunnarsson also competing for spots.

Veteran hockey columnist Mike Brophy will cover the Toronto Maple Leafs for sportsnet.ca for the 2011/12 season.