No, just no... Gropp is a potential top 6 winger, yes losing Oscar sucks but you can't give up possibly your best forward prospect for a possible 3C. Who knows how Mika and Hayes will play as our top 2 Cs. It's an experiment year and if needed, will make moves in season or off season and get a 1C. Maybe Lias makes the team and is 3C, but who knows

Gropp? best forward prospect?
it isn't even clear whether he still has NHL potential, let alone top6 upside. he has neither impressed in his draft+1 nor in his overage year and only got going when Barzal returned to the team. it's sad that he's all that left from the Hags trade but it's time to accept that he wasn't a good pick

Gropp is definitely not our best forward prospect. Chytil is. Gropp had a decent showing in Traverse City, which isn't saying much, but still hasn't impressed anywhere outside the OHL yet. He could be a top 9 if he can get some solid AHL ice time.

Chytil is 17, and isn't allowed to play here yet I don't think? But if Centers are included than yes, I was just talking about wingers. And how is it a negative that Gropp played a lot better with a guy like Barzal who is just very talented? Look at CK... he just broke out his best season with Zibby. Had Zibby not gotten hurt, he may have had a 60-70 point year... all those years with Stepan he did good but not as well.

VGK wouldn't do this. They like OL and I'm sure they know Gropp is a "long shot", "dime a dozen" prospect.