There's a lot of "why" in that Anaheim trade.

Anaheim isn't trading John Gibson and taking a LhD in return.

Utah isn't trading away an A-prospect first-round pick RhD with huge size for two declining veterans with bad contracts.

I regret to inform you that CAR won't be making it to the finals.
I don't even think they can get past NYR.

Hurts not having a franchise level guy. NY might not be as deep, but it's hard to chase panarin around all game and still have to deal with the talent that NYR do have.

I agree about star, but they are so good. My bracket was Stars Canes final

Needs/fit/age/change

it doesn't matter how deep a team is.

The longer the playoffs go, the more you can shorten a bench.
It makes the depth worth less and less.
You look at a team like EDM. They can put McDavid out there for 30 minutes. That's half a game. Half a game you don't have the advantage.
Look at some of the games tonight.
MacKinnon 26:54
Rantanen 27:18
Makar 28:26

It just nullifies the depth of DAL. No matter how deep they are the depth isn't as good as the top 6 of the other team.
You either have to hope you tire them out, or you have to adjust your game plan to play your best guys next to theirs..... but theirs are better.

Last night Panarin played 32:24
32 minutes.... He's the best guy on the ice for either team.
Krieder played 29:44
trocheck played 35:21.
fox played 33:36

It's not like it's hard for these guys to play these minutes either, it isn't.

So you can have a better 3rd and 4th line. But you don't want them out there against the other teams stars. That's where things get messy, because you got 30 minutes out of a top line, 20 minutes out of a 2nd line... and the 3rd line picks up 10.
If you are lucky your depth gives you 10 minutes a game advantage..... while their starts give them 30 minutes a game advantage. You better hope they don't have 2 good top lines.