Rhett Gardner

Gardner joined the North Dakota Fighting Hawks as a freshman for their 2015–16 season, where he helped them win their first NCAA Championship title in 16 years.[7] During the season, he tied for fourth on the team with 11 goals which also ranked second-most among freshmen. He also won 280 faceoffs, which was the second-most in program history.[2] In January 2016, Gardner was named National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Rookie of the Week after scored four goals over two games.[8] As he helped the team clinch their NCAA title, Gardner became the first former Okotoks Oiler player to win a national title.[7] He finished his rookie campaign being named to the NCHC's 2015–16 Academic All-Conference Freshman Team.[9]

Prior to his sophomore season, Gardner was drafted in the fourth round, 116th overall, by the Dallas Stars in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.[10] He returned to the Fighting Hawks for their 2016–17 season where he set a new career high in points, assists, and power-play goals.[2] At the conclusion of the season, Gardner was again selected for the NCHC Academic All-Conference Team.[11] On April 11, 2017, Gardner was named an assistant captain alongside Trevor Olson and Johnny Simonson for the 2017–18 season.[12]

On March 19, 2019, having concluded his collegiate career, Gardner was signed to a two-year, entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars. He was subsequently assigned to the Stars' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Texas Stars, for the remainder of their 2018–19 season.[13] Gardner recorded his first professional assist on Colin Markison’s game-winning goal during a 5–2 win over the Iowa Wild on March 29, 2019.[14]

Gardner was invited to participate in the Dallas Stars' 2019 training camp prior to the start of the 2019–20 season but was re-assigned to the AHL on September 17.[15] He was re-called to the NHL on October 4 prior the Texas Stars' opening night.[16] Gardner made his NHL debut on October 5 against the St. Louis Blues, logging four faceoff wins and one hit in 12:04 time on ice. He played in six more games for Dallas, posting eight shots on goal and seven hits, before being re-assigned to the AHL.[17]

Upon joining the Dallas Stars, he records his first career NHL assist in a 2–1 shootout win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 14. His point, an assist, came off a goal from Joe Pavelski who had redirected Joel Kiviranta's shot on goal.[18] A few games later, on March 21, 2021, Gardner scored his first NHL goal in a game against the Nashville Predators.[19]

On June 24, 2021, Gardner was signed to a two-year, $1.5 million contract extension with the Stars. The deal is two-way for the 2021–22 season and one-way for 2022–23 season.[20]

On July 1, 2023, Gardner left the Stars organization as a free agent in signing a two-year, two-way contract with the Philadelphia Flyers.[21]