#4/5 on an actual contender.
Well, if you have 2 of the best 3 centers in the world, it's possible that you're able to compensate elsewhere. It's not the best example here because few teams have such luxury.I think that's a little low. Pens won back to back Cups, and Gardiner would probably be their #3 on both of those teams. At worst, he'd be the #4 in 2016 when Daley was still at his best for the Pens.
I’ve never thought the Pens were a good example. A generational center and a guy who is close to generational as another center. It’s not a model that can be duplicated. No disrespect to Matthews and Tavares but they’re not close to that level.I think that's a little low. Pens won back to back Cups, and Gardiner would probably be their #3 on both of those teams. At worst, he'd be the #4 in 2016 when Daley was still at his best for the Pens.
Letang (at his best) is ahead. Dumoulin due to his defense/shutdown ability is ahead. After that, it's arguable Gardiner is on par or better than any of Daley, Maatta, or Schultz (the three who are arguably the Pens' 3/4 during that stretch).