?We just make fun of him so much,? said John-Michael Liles, 30, the senior member of the blueline. ?He has to make sure he?s careful of everything he does.?
?That?s just part of the territory,? Cody Franson said. ?When you?re the young guy, you always get picked on a little bit.?
Listening in on the conversation, Luke Schenn decided to chime in, offering up the latest nickname they?ve stuck the mild-mannered Gardiner with.
?Everyone calls him Silver Stick,? Schenn said. ?When you get to 1,000 games [in the NHL], you get a silver stick. He just acts like he?s got 1,000 under him already.?
?That?s the joke,? Franson said. ?He?s calm and cool out there like he?s been in the league that long.?
?Nothing fazes him,? Schenn said.
?Guys chirp him, but he just lets it brush off,? Franson said. ?So we just keep calling him Silver.?
All kidding aside, at this rate, Gardiner looks like a player who could get to that 1,000th game.