Quote:
Originally Posted by yourbestfriend
I get your point, but I think you are discounting talent in general.
Tampa has won two years in a row with Point and Cirelli down the middle. However, they were flanked by Stamkos, Kurcherov, Killorn and Palat. Then they had some ridiculous depth on their bottom 2 lines with Johnson, Gourde and Coleman. Add in Hedman and Vasilevskiy to that mix and you can see why they were so good.
We just don't have that depth and talent in general. I don't think Tre can get us medium/long term solutions for both a #2C (he's been looking for like 4/5 seasons) and a #2RW this year, but Toffolli is a step in the right direction given his age, output and contract if that's the direction we go in. That doesn't mean he shouldn't and isn't still looking for another center, but it seems like that's just not available right now.
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The lowest common denominator I've found among cap era cup winners is:
3 *elite* players in some combination at C/D/G, and a 4th who is at least borderline *elite*
**elite = Could/would play for Team Canada (regardless of nationality) on their own merit (not Kunitz or Muzzin who are there as linemates/D-partners). Obviously this is all subjective, but I think it offers a good cutoff for each position (more wiggle room to goalie which doesn't need to be quite as 'elite').
Markstrom would definitely make TC
Lindholm - He's not exactly a shoo-in, but I think he is better than borderline
Hanifin/Tanev would both be borderline at best (which isn't a knock)
Obviously there is a lot more to it beyond this, but it's a good initial litmus test. IMO we are at least 1 *elite* piece away at these key positions, but we're closer than we've been in a looong time (pretty much just Gio passing this test with peak Monahan being borderline).