It's not center depth, it's top-6 talent (unless we are talking about the bloosers, who are an anomaly). Even still, we are overrating the loss of Kadri because we forget about Landy.
All that said, I am pretty f***ing happy we have a legit #2C locked up for the next few years.
You need a good team to win the Cup. It needs to be good everywhere.
Center depth is just one of the many parts you need. Good 1C, good 2C, good 3C, good 1W, good middle sixers, solid 4th line, good 1D, good 2D, good second pair, solid 3rd pair, good 1G.
We fixate on the 2C here because we didn’t have a good 2C for one Cup run, but even with a good 2C, all the injuries and off ice issues with that 22-23 team meant they weren’t good enough to win even with a good 2C. Because they weren't good enough in the other areas.
For all their center depth, Dallas and Seattle haven’t won with their groups either. Because they weren’t good enough in other areas.
If the 2C hole was filled on the Avs, then they’d have issues elsewhere, because their core players have aged into their UFA contracts, and they’re tight against the cap every year. They'd need to improve their wingers, or their #2D, or their bottom six, or their #4D or #5D.
Like how the Avs IMO need to improve their D core again to win now. It's a little top heavy again. It has issues defensively IMO, and I'm not sure the guys they brought in during the off season will address that. I think they may need some tweaks to it at the deadline.
It’s just one of many reasons why it’s so hard to win. Everything has to come together in one year, including how many roles on your roster you’re able to fill, with good players under a cap system.
