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Better skater than Hughes?

Both of these scenarios scare the s*** out of me... I don't think we should be looking for any quick fixes, regardless if we land Hughes / Kakko... A few smart hockey trades, sure. A big free agent splash that we'll regret in two years time, no thanks... I'd much prefer to stay patient, "trust the process", and continue to rebuild through the draft. While also, like I said, making a few small trades that will benefit us long term.

I'm really high on Cozens, so I'd take him at 3, but at 4, I'd definitely be okay with a trade back. Cozens is an elite skater, probably the best in the draft, which is huge in today's game.

Absolutely agree about getting another 1st. Early-mid 2nds could also be huge. I'm really feeling like this could be a "quantity over quality" draft where the smartest GM on the draft floor could be the one who owns a pick in the 3-10 range and doesn't feel he needs to pick in that range. That's sort of what I was getting at when I listed eight players I'd happily take 3rd overall. If I own the #3 pick, I'm probably looking to see if I can't find a trade-down deal that gets me a later 1st -- let's say #9 -- and a pick or two, or maybe a good prospect. I'm also with you on this draft class being short on exciting defensemen. ...And yet, if we come away with Byram/Broberg and a guy like Mikko Kokkonen or Thomas Harley? Then all of a sudden I feel pretty damn good about the future of our D.

Honestly I would say it may take 1-2 top defenseman (which I know is asking for a lot). I’m not overly optimistic about our future in goaltending either. Would be one thing if we had a young Hasek coming in (much as I gave flack to Mrazek it really does suck he didn’t live up to expectations). Alright maybe not a world class like Hasek but even a prime Ryan Miller type would be nice. Maybe then we would have gotten away with the core you presented in your post. But without a high caliber goalie in sight, that defense really needs to get better for us to be a legit contender. I would hate for all this forward talent to go to waste the next 5-7 years while we’re still waiting and waiting to get better on defense Ergo; I think a trade is necessary within a couple of years of this build.

Well, a few days ago (before Chiarelli got fired), I would have said Bouchard and a 1st round pick... Now, Puljujarvi straight up would probably be in the ballpark... I'm not sure if I'd pull the trigger, but I'd definitely consider it... I'm also not sure if Keith Gretzky would be that quick to give up on Puljujarvi, a high 1st round pick, after all the scrutiny Chiarelli received for trading away Hall and Eberle, and then Strome too early...

Still the most overrated player of modern hockey. And honestly, the guy knows it himself too.

Ill give credit where credit is due, he's playing well this year. Not close to 10.5mil caphit, but he's finally producing like an average first liner.

I too am in a 2019 rebuild. I'm not gone guys, this holiday season has just been so hard on my family. Take care of this place, I'll check in every so often. FWIW, I'd take Datsyuk back. Those Russians play great into their 40's. God Bless.

Hopefully we acquire another 1st round pick at the deadline for Nyquist. There are a ton of talented forwards projected to go in the middle of the 1st, and I'm sure one of them (hopefully Newhook) could drop to us again. Leason is a player I've been keeping a close eye on. I'm not sure if I'd use a 1st round pick on him, but if he slides, I'd use one of our two (maybe more) 2nd round picks. Outside of Byram and York, there aren't really any defensemen that excite me...

And to think it should be (in theory) an upgrade to what we have this season...