I think it works but it really would hinge on what Granlund would sign for.
The Avs challenge is not necessarily 2C/3C imo, it’s balancing the rest of the depth chart after paying MacKinnon, Rantanen next year, then Makar the next year after that. One could then also add a highly valuable middle 6 center but what money then exists for wingers.
Having a middle 6 center under 6 mil aav for the big name contract timeframe is helpful. You’d need granlund to be somewhat similar. I think an unbiased observer would suggest that you won’t be super strong in this area and that’s just kinda how that will be, barring some out performance or internal development.
It’s difficult to see what signed player could be acquired that is both better and cheaper. With the inflationary cap, it is harder to find players who’s pay will remain low.
FWIW in sympathize. The penalty for developing similarly aged talent is that it becomes increasingly difficult, the better the talent is, to build the team around them when they’re all 27+. I’d argue the Avs have a top 3 player in each role, so the system will punish very hard. It seems unfair. I’m a fan of a franchise tag situation that would allow teams to reduce the cap impact of a single star contributor; leads to market stability and allows teams to have great players without tragic cap structures, gives teams a tool to manipulate the cap ceiling.