RetroCanuck

@-AJ-, yes but they had the key pieces you could build around. You need stars and those now come through the top end of the draft. Much harder to find gems in the later rounds like Detroit did.

Modern NHL you need that top end talent and then build around them. We have a few of those guys in Bo, Brock, Pettersson, Juolevi, Demko but we need more, especially on D if we wish to succeed and win cups.

I beg to differ Retro, our team is weak on D prospects. And defensemen are always in demand. 

I'd like to see our first 3 picks as d-men. The next 3 on bpa. 

- Dahlin (ok wishful thinking)

- If Samuelsson is still available in second round, otherwise Stanislav Demin.

- Xavier Bouchard 

The smallest d man in that group will be 6'2".  Because Utica needs some d-men too for developing. 

Differ on what Ghost? The trades? Because I agree with you and do think we need those D prospects you refer to (I like Miller over Samuelsson) and trading pieces away for high picks and ending up near the bottom of the league are the way to get them.

Our problem isn't necessarily that we don't have D prospects, we  just don't have elite ones that you usually get through the top end of the draft.