 Gardner's career as a broadcaster began in 1989 as a studio analyst on SportsChannel Chicago's Blackhawks broadcasts.In 1996, he replaced Daryl Reaugh on Hartford Whalers television broadcasts when Reaugh left to become radio analyst for the Dallas Stars when it looked as if the Whalers might leave Hartford .He followed the Whalers to North Carolina when the team relocated the next season, but left after one season return to the Chicago Blackhawks as the team's color analyst on television and radio.