I'd be fine with our D core moving forward.

Myers, Ehrhoff, Ristolainen, Zadorov, Pysyk. and whomever else will be good in a few years, Risto looks like he's gonna be a stud, and even if Zadorov isn't a top 2 guy, he'll be a great defensive guy and Pysyk is solid.

Our forward group is looking very dim with just Girgensons, Hodgson, Ennis, Grigorenko, Armia, Foligno as the core. No true real threats yet, even though Grigorenko has the potential to be that threat. I'd draft a forward this year and hopefully we are lucky to get McDavid next year and we can have a great team once all those guys hit age 25.

Aaron Ekblad...reminds me of a young Shae Weber, build from the blue line out, imagine having 5 top 2 defensive men in 3 years (Myers, Ehrhoff, Ristolenin, Zadorov, and Ekblad) that's a team I could get behind...scorers can be found in later rounds of the draft.

Right now we're like 40 goals behind the 2nd worst team. Put the puck in the net, win games.

One top-pick forward isn't going to change how often the Sabres put the puck in the net much. Maybe 20-25 goals.

The idea is, you get that top pick forward and bolster it with other draft picks and FA signings.

I understand the idea, but it's not like goal-scoring free agents are just going to suddenly flock to Buffalo.

Uh, there's not even a glimmer of hope that our forward class develops into an actual forward class. When you are last in the league for goals, you don't take a defensemen.

Erik Johnson was the last first overall d-man. In that draft Toews was 3rd overall and Giroux was a late first rounder.
I don't think elite d-men are more difficult too find than elite scorers. In my opinion they should draft the best player, if it isn't a clear vote for the d-men, take the forward.

Over the next years Buffalo won't get top free agents. They need to build scoring from within and hoping for Grigorenko and Armia is quite risky.

OK, but sucking next year and getting McDavid/Eichel fixes that problem. I can't stress what the importance of getting them is. Realistically, what does that set us back, an extra year? If even that?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W80Hc8X5xCQ

Grigorenko was mismanaged. He is gonna be fine.

He needs a season in the AHL. I think Grigo will be fine, too.

Well, if we get McDavid he needs linemates to play with. I'm not counting on Grigorenko, everything he has shown, points more towards bust than top 6 NHL-player.