Playing career

Drafted in 1976 by both the Kansas City Scouts of the National Hockey League and Toronto Toros of the World Hockey Association, Gardner followed the Scouts franchise when it relocated to Colorado, where he played for parts of three seasons. He would also play for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, and Buffalo Sabres. Gardner was an effective presence in front of the net, and was a skilled scorer. He led the American Hockey league in scoring twice (1985 and 1986). A popular player, his limited skating skills curtailed a promising career.

Coaching career

Shortly after his playing career ended, Gardner jumped in to the coaching profession, becoming head coach of the Newmarket Saints of the American Hockey League for four seasons. He would later become an assistant coach for the Baltimore Skipjacks (later Portland Pirates after their relocation) under coach Barry Trotz. Both Trotz and Gardner would later be promoted to the NHL level when they moved to Nashville to work for the expansion Predators. Gardner would be assistant coach through the 2002-03 season and then worked as a pro scout for the organization.

In January 2007, he was named head coach of the Russian KHL team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. He guided the team to a nine game winning streak and made the playoffs, but was released in February 2008. In the summer of 2008, he was named head coach of Dynamo Minsk in Belarus and assistant coach of the Belarus national team. In late July 2008, his contract was cancelled due to personal reasons.

On December 18, 2008, he became the coach of the Hamburg Freezers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) and guided the Freezers to the playoff-quarterfinals that season. In Gardner's second season at the helm, Hamburg did not qualify for the playoffs. His contract expired at the end of the 2009-10 season.

Gardner signed with the Mississippi RiverKings of the Central Hockey League (CHL) for the 2010-11 campaign. On July 29, 2011, Gardner was informed by the team that was relieved of his duties for the following season.

In September 13, 2011 Gardner was named head coach of fellow CHL team Bloomington Blaze. On January 18, 2013 Gardner was appointed head coach of the Braehead Clan of the Elite Ice Hockey League. He guided the Scottish club to the EIHL Gardiner Conference Championship and a playoff-quarterfinal appearance, but did not have his contract renewed at the end of the 2012-13 season.

In Mai 2013, Gardner was named head coach of Dutch Eredivisie side Tilburg Trappers, signing a two-year deal with the team. Under his guidance, the Trappers won back-to-back Dutch championship titles and Dutch cup titles.

On January 1, 2016, German second-division club Lausitzer Füchse hired Gardner as their new head coach.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1974-75	Oshawa Generals	OMJHL		64	27	36	63	54		—	—	—	—	—
1975-76	Oshawa Generals	OMJHL		65	69	75	144	75		—	—	—	—	—
1976-77	Rhode Island Reds	AHL		14	10	4	14	12		—	—	—	—	—
1976-77	Colorado Rockies	NHL		60	30	29	59	25		—	—	—	—	—
1977-78	Colorado Rockies	NHL		46	30	22	52	29		—	—	—	—	—
1978-79	Colorado Rockies	NHL		64	23	26	49	32		—	—	—	—	—
1978-79	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		11	7	2	9	0		6	0	1	1	4
1979-80	New Brunswick Hawks	AHL		20	11	16	27	14		15	10	5	15	5
1979-80	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		45	11	13	24	10		—	—	—	—	—
1980-81	Springfield Indians	AHL		14	9	12	21	6		—	—	—	—	—
1980-81	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		62	34	40	74	59		5	1	0	1	8
1981-82	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		59	36	33	69	28		5	1	5	6	2
1982-83	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		70	28	27	55	12		—	—	—	—	—
1983-84	Baltimore Skipjacks	AHL		54	32	49	81	14		10	12	10	22	0
1983-84	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		16	0	5	5	6		—	—	—	—	—
1984-85	Binghamton Whalers	AHL		64	51	79	130	10		5	3	9	12	0
1984-85	Washington Capitals	NHL		12	2	4	6	6		—	—	—	—	—
1985-86	Rochester Americans	AHL		71	61	51	112	16		—	—	—	—	—
1985-86	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1996-97	Portland Pirates	AHL		1	0	1	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				447	201	201	402	207		16	2	6	8	14

[ Source: Wikipedia ]