Skinner isn't leaving Buffalo for Detroit.

OK!

unless we end up picking 5 or 6 we aren't taking him. hopefully its hughes or kakko

Very nice effort, especially for a first-timer. Very, very well-reasoned thinking. My only other comment is that if you don't get to draft Hughes or Kappo, you're more likely to pick Podkolzin or one of the top center prospects (or maybe even Matt Boldy).

From what I’ve heard sounds like Buffalo is shy to go over 8 AAV. Just my reasoning behind the moves in the post. I doubt the wings land him, but it’s an offer I’d be comfortable with.

With how well Larkin, AA, Hronek, Hirose, Bert, and Bowey have looked the last couple weeks, this could realistically be a playoff WC or 3rd seed atlantic team next year. But that begs the question of whether this core of players could end up competing for a stanley cup in 2-3 years afterwards. I personally think buying this offseason would be a mistake.

Byram would be a good pick if we fall to 5 or 6, but we also would be better off with a potential 30-40 goal scorer in Podkolzin or Kaako, so hopefully we are lucky in the lottery. Cholo, Byrum, DDK, Hronek, Bowey, Myers would be a solid d-core in 2-3 years, but again, I don't know if adding Skinner (who I think is overrated and not worth that much), fixes the forward core enough to give him that money for that term. We won't need to sign him for that contract if we get a 2nd or 3rd pick. The Myers signing would be great for our future on defense though, as long as we can move Daley and/or Big E like you suggested.

Thanks, appreciate the feedback. Definite fun to create scenarios. I guess I’m of the mindset that it’s more likely for them to plummet 2-3 positions than land 1 or 2 overall and select Hughes or Kakko. Even #3 I’m sceptical until I see it happen in April. I’d be thrilled with 1-2, 3 I’d be happy, 4-5 I’d grab Byram and hope he pans out in a couple years.

I’m with you in that I really hope we can land 1-3 and grab another top tier talent. But this was my scenario if we fall in the draft and don’t get that legitimate scoring threat.

I think the key thought here was that if they can land a Myers and add scoring (could be Duchene, Skinner, Hayes) or wait until the following year to add that scoring. They will still have the cap space to pursue another D man in 2020 via free agency and hopefully hit a stud in the draft in the next 2 years.

Ultimately, I think in 2 more years the cap space is there and if they draft well this team will have a lot of young talent and opportunity to address weaknesses via free agency.

So, I'm definitely biased because I saw him play a few weeks ago... but Alex Turcotte is a stud. I think he has the highest upside of Cozens, Dach, Byram, Zegras. If we are picking in the 3-7 range - which is likely - he's the guy I prefer.