He shouldn't trade the pick IMO. He's tossed around several draft picks lately and we have dropped a few spots in the prospect rankings. Keep the cupboards full.

Chicago could have built a team off the guys they traded over the last few years. It's how you stay competitive each year in today's NHL
- sbroads24

I thought the goal was to win the Cup not have the best prospect rankings? Sooner or later he needs to build an actual NHL team. Too many picks = too many pro contracts. It's time to build a roster now. Those picks can and should be moved.

Understood now. Thought it was by each round. Makes sense then. So they could actually be as low as 21.
- SDSabre

Correct. That is their most likely spot.

Remember the skit on SNL with the fat ugly women that makes everyone around her look amazing?

Thats what came to mind as I red your post
- cabin

oh my

I thought the goal was to win the Cup not have the best prospect rankings? Sooner or later he needs to build an actual NHL team. Too many picks = too many pro contracts. It's time to build a roster now. Those picks can and should be moved.
- Stripes77

Agreed. We have had a few drafts of quantity over quality. With Eichel we have built-in quality. Trading the extra pick for an NHL ready top-6 wing should be a priority.

I thought the goal was to win the Cup not have the best prospect rankings? Sooner or later he needs to build an actual NHL team. Too many picks = too many pro contracts. It's time to build a roster now. Those picks can and should be moved.
- Stripes77

Part of why we've dropped in the ranks anyway is because of the amount of guys that don't count toward the prospect ranks anymore, even though they're still technically in that age.

Risto and Girgensons fall into that category. They've played too many NHL games to be considered "prospects" even though they're only 20 and 21 years old.

Agreed. We have had a few drafts of quantity over quality. With Eichel we have built-in quality. Trading the extra pick for an NHL ready top-6 wing should be a priority.
- Pierceme69

I am pretty sure doing nothing but draft players would turn us into Edmonton in the East. You need to surround these young players with real NHL talent. As Goose said Kane fits that mold. Now its time to find at least one more top 6 forward.

Which is why you trade that pick for an established top 6 winger. Not sure I get that point.

You also surround your young centers with guys already in the league who actually have talent.
- ImThatGuy

Which young, established top 6 winger can be had for a late 1st and a late 1st only?

The point is, you don't need to deplete your youth right in the middle of your rebuild.

I am pretty sure doing nothing but draft players would turn us into Edmonton in the East. You need to surround these young players with real NHL talent. As Goose said Kane fits that mold. Now its time to find at least one more top 6 forward.
- Stripes77

If we trade picks/prospects for another top-6 forward, our top-9 is very solid.

Which young, established top 6 winger can be had for a late 1st and a late 1st only?

The point is, you don't need to deplete your youth right in the middle of your rebuild.
- sbroads24

I don't think anyone is suggesting it would be the late 1st only. It's likely a late 1st, Grigorenko, Zadorov/Pysyk type deal.

I thought the goal was to win the Cup not have the best prospect rankings? Sooner or later he needs to build an actual NHL team. Too many picks = too many pro contracts. It's time to build a roster now. Those picks can and should be moved.
- Stripes77

The two are related are they not?

this conversation needs to be put on hold til late july IMO
- homiedclown

We said this last year too

I thought the goal was to win the Cup not have the best prospect rankings? Sooner or later he needs to build an actual NHL team. Too many picks = too many pro contracts. It's time to build a roster now. Those picks can and should be moved.
- Stripes77

"You need to draft well in order to trade well"

Which young, established top 6 winger can be had for a late 1st and a late 1st only?

The point is, you don't need to deplete your youth right in the middle of your rebuild.
- sbroads24

But you're not necessarily doing that. Especially if you're getting a guy that's like 23 or 24 like Kane is.

I'm not saying it's an easy task. And no, I don't have a specific name in mind. But it can be done.

It's also not going to be for just our second 1st round pick. But there are still plenty of pieces we have to work with.

I am pretty sure doing nothing but draft players would turn us into Edmonton in the East. You need to surround these young players with real NHL talent. As Goose said Kane fits that mold. Now its time to find at least one more top 6 forward.
- Stripes77

No, because Edmonton didn't draft well. We did for the most part.

I don't think anyone is suggesting it would be the late 1st only. It's likely a late 1st, Grigorenko, Zadorov/Pysyk type deal.
- Pierceme69

So 3 pieces (potentially) sold off at low values.

Mark Pysyk could potentially be a top 4 defensemen, same with Zadorov. I have 0 interest in moving them along with a 1st for someone like O'Reilly.

We said this last year too
- sbroads24

kane and eichel makes the top 6 closer to average than pathetic though

But you're not necessarily doing that. Especially if you're getting a guy that's like 23 or 24 like Kane is.

I'm not saying it's an easy task. And no, I don't have a specific name in mind. But it can be done.

It's also not going to be for just our second 1st round pick. But there are still plenty of pieces we have to work with.
- HonkFortheGoose

Yes you are, especially if you are trading 3 and 4 pieces to get another Kane.

Look at the successful teams in the postseason. They have 7-8 guys that can play top 6 roles. You need depth.

kane and eichel makes the top 6 closer to average than pathetic though
- homiedclown

Are they 40 points better? I think in 2 years we will be off to the races. Next year we will be way too young IMO

But you're not necessarily doing that. Especially if you're getting a guy that's like 23 or 24 like Kane is.

I'm not saying it's an easy task. And no, I don't have a specific name in mind. But it can be done.

It's also not going to be for just our second 1st round pick. But there are still plenty of pieces we have to work with.
- HonkFortheGoose

1st and the non Buffalo 2nd to a team looking to stock up on picks (Do what Buffalo did) Could be very intriguing.

I have no names but Murray did say you would be surprised to hear the names that become available at the draft.

So 3 pieces (potentially) sold off at low values.

Mark Pysyk could potentially be a top 4 defensemen, same with Zadorov. I have 0 interest in moving them along with a 1st for someone like O'Reilly.
- sbroads24

Keep holding on to potential guys. That's got us far.

Are they 40 points better? I think in 2 years we will be off to the races. Next year we will be way too young IMO
- sbroads24

maybe


the foundation is set for the special teams to at least be average

they are going to have around 22 mil to upgrade the lineup and plug in a goalie or 2

I am not saying they will make the playoffs but

if you add 2 legit d men, a top end winger and find a competent coach, they could surprise us next year

No, because Edmonton didn't draft well. We did for the most part.
- sbroads24

And how many cups have we won?

Look at LA. They had picks and prospects and traded them for players that helped win them cups. I am not saying trade every prospect but until those players are real NHL players they are just question marks.

Yes you are, especially if you are trading 3 and 4 pieces to get another Kane.

Look at the successful teams in the postseason. They have 7-8 guys that can play top 6 roles. You need depth.
- sbroads24

You can't have your cake and eat it too.

You can't expect the team to get any better if you don't do anything to help improve it.

yes, we have a lot of good quality prospects. But other than Eichel, Ristolainen, and Girgensons, none of them are what I would call high quality.

It's time to package some of them up together to get some more high quality players. You need some vets that can help with the youth. If they wait for all of these prospects to make their way through the ranks, it's going to be another 3 or 4 years of finishes probably in the 5-8 range.

You have to give to get. With the current cap situation a lot of teams have, it's very possible they could manage to get some guys from cash strapped teams because those teams don't have a choice but to make room somewhere.

We also have to be careful about the number of guys under contract. With the amount of guys we've drafted over the past few years, it's going to start getting tricky to get them all under contract in the allotted time before we lose their rights. I'd rather trade some of them for a better guy than lose them for nothing because we didn't have enough contracts to go around.

"You need to draft well in order to trade well"
- TheSabresTaco

Which has already been done. So why keep drafting players when you have a bunch of kids in your lineup? Move the plethora of picks we still have and get real NHL players.

And how many cups have we won?

Look at LA. They had picks and prospects and traded them for players that helped win them cups. I am not saying trade every prospect but until those players are real NHL players they are just question marks.
- Stripes77

Most of our prospects haven't even hit Rochester yet either. Your Hurley's, Compher's, Baptiste's of the pipeline will help fill out the roster in a year or two when we need bodies.