NASHVILLE — The center position has been an organizational black hole for the Rangers at least since Lias Andersson and Brett Howden either failed to meet expectations or were not awarded a broad enough opportunity to do so.

For the purposes of this conversation, the reasons why are immaterial.

Following the 2016 first-round battering by the Penguins and the 2017 second-round elimination by the Senators, general manager Jeff Gorton had recognized the need to turn over the position. The time of 1A and 1B had run its course.

Derick Brassard (1B) was the first to go, sent to Ottawa in the summer of ’16 for Mika Zibanejad in a deal that has become one of the greatest in franchise history.