i just dont love their depth down the middle.

three 3c's behind aho

I agree to your point.

With or without Anderson I think the Canes are a cup contender.

I think they just lack the game breakers that separate the top teams

Center depth isn't great and Martinook in a top 9 role isn't great either.

What? Martinook's no worse than Staal or Fast. Plus, Martinook literally had 10 points in 5 playoff games against the Devils.

. Canes will always be a tough out but just no offensive game breakers on this team. They’ve proven they can’t score in tight playoff games and I see no reason why this version of team will be any different. Devils are better, and so are Leafs, Bolts and Panthers

This team is a contender if not one of the favorites. Kotkaniemi has proven he's a capable 2C. That D core is hands down the best in the NHL. Down the wings, they're among the best of the league. It's simple. Get to the playoffs. We're missing maybe a top 9 RW to play opposite Teravainen on the 3rd line (assuming Staal is the 4th like last year). Could argue they need a 3C instead of Drury, but with Jarvis, Kotkaniemi, Necas, and Svechnikov all looking like they could make big steps (Svechnikov is healthy right now by the way, he could play today) this roster is terrifying.

And that is an anomaly for his career - more than half his playoff point production came in those games against the Devils.

Yet he remains one of the best player in the league analytically with that line of Marty - Staal - Fast having been one of the best at driving play all year round, according to MoneyPuck's public model... stop it

Martinook ended up being the Niederreiter replacement that no one expected and it played out well.

Kotkaniemi's underrated in the online hockey community. He broke offensively really late in the year but still managed a 0.5 PPG pace. I would not be shocked if he continued his upward trajectory this year.