Is he playing as well as he was in the playoffs though? It's the pre season, why are people putting stock into this? All off season I heard that Gardiner was "going to take the next step forward" based off his playoff play. He looks exactly like the same Gardiner of 2 years ago. Sure he's good with the puck on his stick with room, but he still blows coverages way too often, makes poor reads, throws the puck away under pressure, and holds onto the puck in the offensive zone for two long.
I know he isn't perfect. But Carlyle has a winning system, which you can't question. He clearly see's Gardiner play sticking out and not working for his system. After a year and a bit, you'd think Gardiner would have adapted a more simply game at times. I still see Gardiner carry the puck into high traffic zones and turn the puck over.
Yes, Lupul is a good example. But there was a difference. One, Lupul was often injured and took the game, as well as fitness much less seriously back then. It's fairly obvious he wasn't the same player he was there that he is here, and while Carlyle never gave him the chance for top line minutes, it wasn't like he was playing phenomenally.