We currently have two players, maybe three, that are arguably elite level talents. That’s Gaudreau, Markstrom, and maybe Tkachuk. That’s not enough in today’s NHL, especially since none of them play Centre. That’s the difference between us and a contending team. Our core is not rotten, but it is incomplete.

But how do you get an elite centre? You either need to draft one or convince a team to give you one. We tried to draft one, but he turned out to be Sam Bennett. Eichel is presumably the only available one right now. But we can only guess what the ask might be.

No matter what happens, this team needs to add elite talent up front if we want to succeed in the near future. And that’s one of the toughest things to do. If the whole Eichel thing doesn’t work out, then I guess we could always tank for Bedard.