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Okay, but the point is, unless you're going to trade Hank and Gabby, you will not get a shot at a Crosby-like center. Frankly, you won't get a shot at Kovy-like winger either.
This is a one-time opportunity to get a legit top five scoring threat in the lineup. Would it be better if he played center? Sure. But, by the same token, the plan isn't to continue to have 2 top wingers centered by waiver wire castoffs and rookies. We don't have superstar centers in our pipeline, but we've got really good, solid centers in our pipeline - you plant those guys (and other forwards like Kreider and Grachev) around these guys and you'll have two very solid scoring lines over the next couple of years.
Part of what makes this plan so appealing is that Kovy and Gabby are so young. Will the team contend with this lineup next year? Doubtful (although my bet would be that they'd make the playoffs). But in 3 years, when Gabby and Kovy are 30 and 31, respectively? That's going to be one scary team.
Better yet, because you've got the superstars on the contracts beginning now and the kids are still a few years away, it plays out really well from a cap perspective - just as the kids are all coming up to their UFA years, Gabby's and then Kovy's contracts are expiring.
As always, this comes with my standard caveat that you need to be able to sign Kovy to a contract with a cap hit around Crosby's or less. If someone else is willing to do something ridiculous like $11MM per year, you walk away.
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