Daimon Gardner

November 2023 – Gardner certainly didn’t have the start to his collegiate career that he had hoped for. In his first 11 games, he only managed two assists. The only saving grace for Gardner’s debut at Clarkson University is that the team is currently ranked 53rd out of 60 teams for goals per game, with only 2.36. Although this is a challenging beginning, patience needs to be the key for the fourth-rounder, as he has never experienced such difficulty in production before, and it may just be a rough start. Cedrick Blais-Turcotte

July 2022 – Gardner, 18, was selected 112th overall by the Vancouver Canucks. He posted an impressive 83 points (45-38-83) in his 2021-22 High School campaign and enjoyed quick stints in the USHL (14 games). With such a large frame, he has been able to overpower his opponents thus far, protecting the puck well and producing chances by driving hard to the net. He is strong in puck battles and dominates board play. He compliments this power with a fair offensive toolkit. Gardner will head to Chilliwack, where he is slated to skate with the Chiefs as he graduates to the BCHL level. While he is considered somewhat of a project, he carries intriguing elements which could translate into a bottom-six, power forward down the line. Peripherals, anyone? Dave Hall