This might sound crazy, but I don't think we should wait until 2025-26 to trade for a center. I would be pretty aggressive in the trade market now. I don't think Kyle should overpay, and centers are coveted; but this is pretty futile depth. As mentioned earlier by others, this team is super thin down the middle, and although Dickinson had two goals last game playing with 98, he's not a typical top-six center. I think Dickinson would be a respectable third-line center on a good team, and a fourth-line center on a true Cup contender. Feel free to correct me if I'm understating his two way play at all.
I just look at the YoY Bedard goal-scoring regression and fact we're dead last in the standings again and really just want the game to be fun for him. He deserves to play with a quality center at all times (even if Dickinson can last on his line, what happens if he gets hurt?). We're terrible on faceoffs as a club and have been for a very long time. I just can't really stomach the fact we have a kid with an absolutely lethal shot, and he isn't always given an opportunity to play with guys who can win draws or help aid in creating time and space so he can get that patented shot off on goaltenders. Couple nice assists last night, but the last few games, he's struggling just to even get the puck on net.
