Gardiner was born in Minnesota to parents Jill and John Gardiner. His father ran a printing business and coached him in peewee.\n', '

Gardiner played ice hockey at Minnetonka High School. Prior to his senior year at Minnetonka High School, Gardiner switched from forward to defense on the advice of Minnesota State University coach Troy Jutting. In his senior year, Gardiner was named a top-10 finalist for the Mr. Hockey Award and was later drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round, 17th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Despite his high draft place, he then attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison. \n', '

In his freshman season with the Badgers, Gardiner was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team. As an alternate captain with the Badgers during the 2010–11 season, Gardiner was named to the All-WCHA Second Team. While with the Badgers, on February 9, 2011, Anaheim traded Gardiner, along with Joffrey Lupul and a conditional fourth-round draft pick in 2013, to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for defenseman François Beauchemin. Gardiner chose to forgo his senior season with the Badgers and instead signed a three-year entry level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.\n', '

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