Hockey is won up the middle: #1C, #1D, #1G...100%

Soooooo, if you're going after a #1C in Eichel why not flip the current #1C in EP40 (keep QH & Miller by packaging something else w/ EP) and be on the clear-path to solidifying what turns a >50-some-year-bumbling franchise (VAN), into a player?

The Danault signing doesnt really make sense if you have Eichel and EP

There is just no way Van does this..

I like the phenomenal centre depth. Vancouver can sustain a #1C injury and keep on trucking, in addition to having one of the best top lines in hockey. Centers can easily move to the wing giving this lineup incredible flexibility up-front. We also get younger up front and cost certainty on one of the top players in the NHL in Eichel. You have to give to get so Hughes and Miller is a significant give. Miller is not in the right age range for long-term contention and the Hughes loss is mitigated by the promise of Rathbone and obviously contingent on landing the Power lottery.

This configuration also allows Vancouver to add in the coming years with many bad contracts and the Luongo recapture coming off the books the year after. $22M with only Brock as a key piece to re-sign.

Rathbone 8GP in NHL in 'garbage-time', best to cool ur jets a bit there...