To me, that talk of the 2C was a bit of pandering to an audience, hoping to throw fuel on a fire. 14 points in 18 games the prior two playoffs is pretty respectable for a 2C. Last year sucked for sure though. Our whole team sucked in the playoffs last year, hard to point fingers at single players. There is no question that we need to plan for a 2C long-term though, time stops for nobody.
I think the 2C talk is premature and pandering... we shall see what kind of year Tavares has... is he still a 2C? Rebound year, or further deterioration in his game? I think you need to see how JT's play is this year, before concluding that is the major need.
There aren't many teams who have a playoffs rosters set in October... that's just reality. Nearly every competitive team is looking to add a body (or bodies) for the playoffs, so those rosters just aren't set. Oilers added last year, Panthers added last year... everyone does it. The cap is certainly one of the major reasons teams have to add at that time of year, everyone has a hole they are looking to fill, or upgrade.
Now, digressing from this conversation, I thought this past offseason was the time to make a change to look at the future. My favourite trade idea, was sending Marner to Seattle for a package that included Shane Wright... to try and get that future 2C... but, clearly something like that didn't happen... young cost controlled future 2C.
Hey, let's just hope Berube can have enough of an influence to get this group to do something in the playoffs....