The Montreal Canadiens went decades without having proper depth at the center ice position. When Saku Koivu was a rookie, he was playing third line center behind Pierre Turgeon and Vincent Damphousse who both scored 38 goals and had 96 and 94 points respectively.
That is some solid depth at center ice. However, that was 1995-96 and within a year the Habs would trade away Turgeon for a mediocre return which left them hoping Marc Bureau would become a third line center. He did not and thus began the Canadiens 24 year search for proper depth down the middle.