The Leafs must get Jake Gardiner in their line-up. He's so talented that his inclusion alone will propel the Leafs out of their playoffless hell. Brian Burke needs to do it by any means necessary: trade, demotion, kidnapping Mike Komisarek .

The Maple Leafs have put themselves in a position where they can avoid this exact scenario that Leafs Nation is dreaming of. There is enough depth throughout the line-up that they shouldn't be forced to play any of their young prospects.

It's also possible that Gardiner is receiving all this praise not necessarily because he's played well enough to deserve it, but because Leaf fans have not seen a player like him in a long time. They are praising his style of play more than they are praising him specifically. Gardiner is a smooth skater willing to insert himself right into the offensive play, but is fast enough to get back defensively. He is shifty and adds a certain flair to a backend best characterized as truculent (or slow, whatever). He's like a young Tomas Kaberle (before Kaberle was beaten down by trade rumours), but with the speed burst held down. Oh, and he'll shoot the puck.

Why force something? It's not like sending Gardiner back to the AHL is going to stunt his development. In fact, playing major minutes in all situations for the Marlies is probably better developmentally than playing protected third pairing minutes in the NHL. Sure the competition isn't as great in the AHL, but it will certainly help work out some of the defensive kinks in his game (which are there) and will make him a better overall player.

The Leafs are in a perfect situation for Gardiner to make the team next season. John-Michael Liles is in the final year of his contract and can be replaced next season by a more mature and, hopefully, better version of the Gardiner we're watching now in training camp.

The Leafs can also explore trade options over the course of the season, rather than try to make something happen over a week when they don't have any real leverage. Liles might even be an attractive option for a team at the trade deadline. If so, the Leafs can call up Gardiner to take his place.

The Leafs have the same dilemma with both Nazem Kadri and Matt Frattin . A dilemma that has become even less of an issue now that Matthew Lombardi has the potential to fully recover from his concussion by the start of the season.

Both Kadri and Frattin are in competition for a spot as the Leafs' third line winger. Both have played well during training camp, but like Gardiner, neither have played so well that the Leafs simply can't afford to leave them off the NHL squad.

Frattin has a lone professional game under his belt and would be well served to spend a season in the AHL. The same is true for Kadri , who played slightly over half a season with the Marlies last year, in addition to a handful of games

A few weeks of success against minor league line-ups during the preseason sure is a compelling reason to make a promotion which drastically re-orders your line-up. Too bad the years worth of failed prospects suggest there's a better course of action.

The Leafs have themselves a problem. It's a nice problem, admittedly, but a problem nonetheless. They have too many defencemen. More importantly, one of those defencemen, Jake Gardiner, not seen as a serious contender to make the team before camp, is playing better than most of the players above him on the depth chart.Or they should ignore the irrational cries of their fan-base and do what's best for their prospects and, more importantly, their organization.There are seven, possibly eight, defencemen ahead of Jake Gardiner on the depth chart. I agree he has impressed this pre-season, but he hasn't been so out-of-this-world good to necessitate trading or demoting someone ahead of him.This all sounds tremendously exciting. But please, please, please have some patience.It's also likely that the team will suffer some injuries. If that happens Gardiner will be one of the first call-ups. But until then, he can learn the pro game in the AHL. Let's not forget, Gardiner is only 21 and has played all of 10 games in the NHL. He could use some time in the AHL.in the NHL.Looking at this from a long-term perspective, it's better for both of them to play in all situations in the AHL, rather than play in a third-line role in the NHL.Just because there is excitement surrounding these three players doesn't mean the Leafs should rush any of them if they aren't completely ready. The Leafs have a long history of rushing their prospects to their overall detriment. They would be wise to avoid that thinking with these three players.The Detroit Red Wings are a model organization for handling their prospects in this cautious manner. They seemingly never call up a player before they are NHL-ready. Sometimes this takes years. But almost all their prospects fit in seamlessly when they arrive with the big club. The Leafs could learn something for the Wings, they've only been the most successful team of the past two decades.