Hey, what about Reid?
What does Reid Gardiner have to do to get more recognition from Hockey Canada and NHL teams?
The former first round draft choice of the Prince Albert Raiders has fallen off Hockey Canada’s radar since his participation in the World under-17 challenge and despite high rankings by some scouting services in his draft year, Gardiner has been passed over in two successive NHL drafts.
The 19-year-old from Humboldt has hit the ground running since his return from the NHL young guns tournament in Penticton B.C., where he scored his first professional goal with the Vancouver Canucks’ rookie squad. The right winger who has what many describe as a “pro” shot, has already been a WHL player of the week and finished the 6 game US/Cranbrook road trip with 4 goals and 5 assists.
Earlier this season, when the Raiders were hosting Vancouver, Shaw TV commentator and former NHL tough guy Jeff Odgers (who has seen Gardiner play many times), said he couldn’t believe some NHL team hasn’t either taken a flyer on Gardiner in the late rounds of the draft, or signed the Raider assistant captain to a free agent contract.