[TheScorpion]

Well we will simply have to agree to disagree.

I'm simply using "elite" as a descriptor btw. Fully aware that it's overused.

And yeah... Eller and Ryan are 40-point centres but their defensive impact and presence on the ice makes them extremely valuable players. I fully stand by this. And no, they aren't only valuable if they have league minimum salaries. I ask you this -- why? It's perfectly ok to pay guys $2.5-4 million if they're effective players.... Ryan and Eller wouldn't look out of place in any team's top-six.

You can't win with teams made up entirely of Taylor Halls and Johnny Gaudreaus. You definitely need them. But you need elite role players who can add depth to your lineup while being able to skate on all four lines to be able to win anything in this league. Every Cup winner ever has had these guys... a reason why the Oilers as they currently exist will never win anything is because their bottom-nine is weak and has no elite middle-six talent. Just because guys like Eller and Ryan aren't "big names" and because they're over 30 hardly makes them league average players. Once again if you think they're league average then you have awfully high expectations.

And David Jones wasn't a plug. You're simply wrong, IMO! But this isn't a conversation for this thread, today...