Gardiner has stretches of games where he's a fantastic top 4 dman. He can win you games and I think he'd look great next to a sturdy partner. The problem with him is he'll then make a play that will make zero sense, resulting in a goal. Then it just goes downhill from there. Mistake after mistake.
No doubt the Leafs will miss him, but I think it's best for both parties if he just move on.
I think he'd be a great fit in Montreal. Just hope you don't get into a game 7 with him. In 3 game 7's against the Bruins he's a collective -10.
2013: 0G 1A -2
2018: 0G 1A -5
2019: 0G 0A -3
Lets look a bit closer at the 2019 -3
last one is an EN, hard to fault anyone in that scenario
Lots of blame to go around on the 1st one.
AM34 causes a turnover but gives it right back with a lazy swipe back to Blue line to d-man matt Grezlyck, Then AM34, Dermott and johnnson chase grezlyck into the corner. (3 on 1) they kinda leave Gardiner and other leaf fwd to deal with the other 4 bruins. Neither gets close enough to prevent grezlyck from passing puck to Nordstrom at side of net. he then scores between goalie and the post.
Gardiner is a bit in no mans land but that is more a function having 2 leafs to cover 4 guys cause 3 chased into the corner. Andersson should not let that shot in, 3 guys should not be chasing one and not preventing the pass and Matthews makes a bad play sweeping it to the point after his good play to break up initial attack.
Goal 2
Gardiner has puck in corner, Bruins 83 is pressuring him. Seems to be trying to reverse it and just kind of loses it. Its a bad play but not critical yet. If his centre was behind him supporting him to give him a second option no issue. He only had one option to d partner going behind net as matthews is our in no mans land in the slot. Passing it out there would have been a bone headed play.
Bruins recover puck, matthews to front of net and gets tied up with coyle creating a great screen, all other leafs are caught on wrong side of matthews and coyle allowing marcus johannsson to skate it out of corner to slot and score.
Matthews is as much to blame on either of those goals as Gardiner.