Well with the assumption of Hall or Pouliot being his linemate we would be looking for a veteran RW. This would also have to have an assumption of Purcell being forced down the line-up or him being traded away/bought-out.
Shane Doan is extremely loyal and is overpaid for what he provides at this stage, but it's hard to believe he is thrilled with the direction of Arizona at this time, he's about as good of a veteran leader as you could get for the young guys.
Marian Hossa is an extremely well rounded two-way player and would be a solid veteran pick-up, although Chicago being scared to death of potential cap recapture penalties will likely make it a non-starter.
Justin Williams is about to hit free agency and plays a complete game, is a good vet and he knows how to elevate his game in key moments, he'd be a good guy for the young guys . I think he is an individual who will prioritize cups over the pay day and for that reason I don't think he would choose us.
Marty St. Louis tends to make everyone around him better and helped in the development of Richards, Lecavalier, and Stamkos; despite his gifts he's a midget on what is already a pretty small team, but maybe he can teach them how to play with heart despite their diminutive size.
The only other one that comes to mind is Jagr who just re-signed in Florida.
Bingo!
I said it with 'our' current group of 1sts, and now I think it is even more important with McDavid. The Oilers need Jagr. Mentoring players is what he does now - along with still being a very good player. Hall, Eberle, Hopkins, Yakupov, they would have all benefited from Jagr. They still would, as they all have a lot of room to grow as players. If the Oilers could somehow get Jagr out of Florida they need to.
Jagr is someone all 'our' young stars can look up to, have respect for, and see a reason to listen to. That being said, I think 'our' current management group (Lowe, MacTavish, etc.) is arrogant enough to believe that they can teach the players anything and everything Jagr can. 'We' do have Messier and Gretzky affiliated with the team, and if they were still playing 'we' wouldn't need Jagr, but they are not.
Jagr would have come here a few years ago... maybe he still would. But then again, does Lowe and Co. want a player around of Jagr's caliber who wasn't a member of the old boys club? He just might call the organization on its 'flaws'.
edit: I want to correct something I wrote: "If [Messier or Gretzky] were still playing 'we' wouldn't need Jagr..." Jagr, it seems, is a good teacher along with being an elite player. Being good at something doesn't mean you can teach it. Even if Messier or Gretzky were still playing, Jagr might still be the better option. What was it Jagr said when asked why players seem to develop on the teams he played for? (Its a rhetorical question - he said that only two players he knows never had to learn the game, Gretzky and Lemeuix. Everyone else had to learn it, himself included. He passes on what he learned... smart man.) How does this fit with my other thread about Iginla or Thornton? Seemingly the same reasoning applies.
