I like the forwards and defense but goaltending will still be the reason why they don't advance to the SCF.

That defense can make almost any goalie look good

Except for when Gardiner turns the puck over 50 times in a game 7 resulting in his team being eliminated.

Ikr, it hurt a lot, it made Zaitzev look horrible, but he was really good with Muzzin

I think it’s worthwhile pointing out that Gardiner is a 3rd pair D and 2nd PP unit guy in CAR. They don’t have to trot him out for 22mins a night like TOR did. He’s lucky if Brind’Amour lets him sniff more than 16mins of ice-time a game.

Heck, Gardiner was benched during the BOS series and that was when he was paying very wel (in my view) with Fleury. I have absolutely zero qualms about a Gardiner-Fleury 3rd pairing, well except Gardiner’s salary in a flat cap world. That 3rd pair should be one of the better ones in the league.