Would you make a similar offer for Eichel that you made for Larkin? If not what would need to be changed to make that offer?

Detroit says no thanks, I want Larkin with one of Hughes/Kakko.

With that offer you could get someone a lot better then Larkin!

That's an overpayment for Larkin. He is good, but not that good

What about Eichel? What do you think Colorado would need to offer for Jack?

If the Avs get number 1 then I wouldn’t trade it for Jack. I would draft Hughes, I think he is comparable to Eichel and will be on that all important ELC for 3 years. Same goes for number 2 and Kakko.

Now if they got number 3 to let’s say 5 then I would trade that pick, this years first, Timmons and let’s say Kerfoot for Eichel but I am sure that the answer will be no. ELC contracts are so important in the cap world.

While Eichel has shown to be a two way player this year, but I would make the trade as you described, 5OA, another first, Timmins and Kerfoot. I think the Sabres need to send a statement to the other players on the team. Our best player can be traded so can all of you.

Without a doubt. I like Larkin, and he'd fit our style of play very well, but I rate Eichel quite a bit more moving forward.

If the pick isn't top 2? Who do you have in mind? Larkin may not be in the Barkov or Draisaitl tier of absolutely dream 1-2 punches with MacK; but he's in that next tier with Dubois, Couturier, Trocheck, etc. He's a good two-way player who's put up 63 points in 69 games on a terrible team, with speed out the ass. Add that he's 22 & signed through his peak for 6.1M per, and he'd help this team capitalize on the cap window we have before MacK will need a pricey extension & Makar will come off his ELC, more than anyone in this draft other than the top 2.

Not saying that none of these kids will ever surpass Larkin, just that this team needs to start winning ASAFP & the key to that -- based on the roster models that we've seen win the cup in the cap era -- is either adding a 1b Center behind MacK or an elite #1 blueliner...and the pricetag on the latter is going to be quite a bit higher than the former; which is why I'd be hunting for a Larkin / Dubois / Trocheck if we don't get Hughes or Kakko with that pick as the centerpiece of a package. And adding one or two A- and B-futures to that Ottawa pick to turn it into a player around the caliber of what we hope that pick would someday become, is a price we have the asset-surplus to afford.

This draft has a few kids I'm really high on outside of the top two...Podkolzin, Turcotte & (to a lesser extent) Cozens and Caufield...but other than Kakko & Hughes there's nobody I expect to be an NHL difference maker by their draft+2 season, and we really need to be serious cup contenders by 2020-2021.

I would take Dubois or Couturier over Larkin. The player I would want most is Barzal but that’s not happening. The player I would target is Huberdeau, I believe he played a lot of centre before he moved to the wing.

As far as the draft, I think there is one important name you left out. Zegras has the ability and potential to be a game changer.