We don't - and almost certainly won't - have any generational talent. I've long since accepted that. It is what it is.
My thing is this: If we're gonna do the win-by-committee approach...and we're eyeing the playoffs...and we don't have a particularly deep team (the kind of team that can do the win-by-committee thing)...then we need to load up on really good talent from outside the system. That'll make us competitive now, and foster a winning culture for the young guns, and keep pressure off said young guns.
The key is...you have to actually do it. You have to lean into it. If you half-ass a win-by-committee approach, the team will suck and everyone's time and money is wasted. You always need to be on the ball. There's no "Well, maybe we take a step back this year, but it'd be worth it in the long run, because we have some good-not-great prospects coming in four years." That's dumb.
I get frustrated when I feel like Yzerman's taking his foot off the gas in that regard. I know that sounds like I'm just an instant gratification junkie (guilty as charged, I suppose), but it really is more than that. I really don't think treading water is an option, if win-by-committee is the model. If we had two Raymonds and two Seiders and a 2C who's better than Compher, that'd be one thing. But, well, we don't.
Tarasenko's a good add. If we add a really good defenseman, I'm happy. Fingers crossed.