Quoting: Jacketsman61
Really Mateychuk probably starts in Cleveland. Blankenburg would be perfectly suited to fit the role until he is ready we just as easily not do the SJ trade keep the pick get a top RD and develop them. The two best years in our franchise was when we had Bread. We need another guy like that. Fantilli maybe eventually but he isn’t there yet and we would be foolish not to take advantage of Gaudreau. Gaudreau needs an elite C to be truly effective.
Mateychuk and Brindley likely both start in Cleveland (which, good, no need to rush their development). Blanks is another 7D fringe guy, and I love the guy...but a team that has him as an NHL regular isn't going anywhere very quickly.
The two best years of the franchise was definitely with Bread, and we do need another guy like that. Fantilli should be eventually, and I have hope for players like Johnson and Marchenko, but we don't have a Bread right now even with Gaudreau. Panarin creates something out of nothing, is elite defensively and offensively, and makes his teammates better. Gaudreau is an elite playmaker, but he's already 30 and not a true gamebreaker. I think it's foolish to think that an elite C to play with Gaudreau is the only thing this team needs.
If you have an elite player fall into your lap in free agency at a reasonable cost, you take it. Attempting to shift the window of the entire team to accommodate that player's prime when you lack a supporting cast nearly entirely is foolish. You have to develop the supporting cast and a couple breakout candidates first through drafting and development, you can't reverse or rush the process just because of one big fish. I think JG knows that and is fine with that. The sooner we realize that as a fanbase the better.
If this team grows into a perennial contender, it's because guys like Fantilli, Sillinger, Voronkov, Brindley, Marchenko, Chinakhov, Mateychuk, Jiricek, Johnson, and Greaves/Tarasov have developed and are carrying the team. Werenski will still be in his prime, but Jenner and Gaudreau are likely support players in the twilight of their careers by then playing specialty roles.