Leafs coach Randy Carlyle isn't sure when Jake Gardiner (concussion/whiplash symptoms) will return. Carlyle thinks Gardiner's "close," but Carlyle added that "I thought he was close a month ago." Concussions usually don't conform to timetables and consequently a player can be day-to-day for months.

Jake Gardiner has been put at about 90 percent healthy by coach Randy Carlyle after being out of action for a month due to concussion and whiplash symptoms. "There has been progress on Gardiner," he said. "We will hopefully have him available to us at the start of camp. But there are certain tests he'll have to pass." Gardiner has been sidelined since Dec. 8, but he had been playing very well in the AHL before then with nine goals and 17 points in 22 games with the Marlies.

Jake Gardiner is still out with concussion symptoms. The mobile defender has been sidelined since December 8th and his return date to action is still up in the air. Gardiner has the potential to develop into an excellent fantasy defensman at the NHL level.

Jake Gardiner is still sidelined because of a combination of concussion and whiplash symptoms. "The best way to describe it is that he's had no setbacks," Toronto Marlies coach Dallas Eakins said. "I don't care if we are down to three defensemen. You don't rush those (head injuries). He's progressed to light workouts." The smooth-skating blueliner, who has been sidelined since Dec. 8, has been seen around the dressing room but he hasn't been able to return to the ice yet.

Jake Gardiner isn't expected to be back in the lineup for the Toronto Marlies until after Boxing Day. He is still being bothered by a sore neck and headaches after being hit from behind in a game against Rochester on Dec. 8. "The way the schedule has played out (three games in four days starting Wednesday in Cleveland), we have a certain medical protocol we have to follow with Jake," coach Dallas Eakins said. "We can't sway from it. He hasn't been on the ice, he has to get into a full contact practice and that's just not going to happen the way our schedule is. He can't play until we ramp him up in practice. And we play right after the break (Boxing Day against Hamilton) so he can't play that one."

Toronto Marlies coach Dallas Eakins said Jake Gardiner is dealing with head and neck issues, but he won't call the injury a concussion. The Toronto defenseman is also experiencing headaches, so his symptoms appear to be concussion-like in nature. For now the Marlies will "err on side of caution" and keep him out of the lineup despite the fact that he finished last Saturday's game when he took the hit to the head. Gardiner isn't expected to play this Saturday versus Rochester, but he was scheduled to sit that match anyway because of the Eakins' rotation.

Jake Gardiner might be dealing with a head injury. Gardiner absorbed a hard hit to the head on Saturday and missed Sunday's contest. The good news is that Gardiner didn't reveal any concussion symptoms Sunday morning, so this might be a case of the AHL Toronto Marlies simply erring on the side of caution.

Jake Gardiner scored twice and assisted once in Toronto's 4-3 win over Rochester on Saturday night. Gardiner tallied 30 points in 75 games last year for the Maple Leafs, and he has 17 in 22 in the AHL, a mark that puts him seventh among defenseman.

Jake Gardiner scored two goals in the Toronto Marlies' 5-4 win against the Lake Erie Monsters. Gardiner snapped his five-game pointless streak. He has seven goals and seven assists in 21 AHL games this season.

Jake Gardiner is taking his time in the AHL in stride. It's easy for a player who made the jump to the NHL last year for the first time, playing in 75 games (with 30 points), to get a little frustrated that he's back in the minors, but Gardiner isn't looking at it that way. "My ice time [north of 20 minutes a night], playing power play and penalty killing is great for getting more experience," Gardiner said. "It's improving my game so I can perform those at the next level even better." The 22-year-old blueliner has 12 points in 18 games with the Marlies.