The way I see it our core is almost completely built. I want a top 6 C (could be Pinto or Jimmy), RW, and top 4 RD (could be JBD). The way the kids are playing now makes me think we are close to competing. Chabot is on his big contract, Tkachuk should be next year. These guys are going into their primes with Norris, Batherson, and Zub not far behind. Jimmy and Sanderson are a bit further behind, but considering what this year's draft is like I doubt we get a player as good as them. Any player we do draft will likely be at least a year away from the NHL, and depending on the pick is they could be 3 or 4. Look at Logan Brown, there is no guarantee a high pick becomes a core NHL player. If we trade the pick to a rebuilding team who is willing to sell a good player around Chabot's age we can get a much more known asset. This is good because we know he will be good (unlike a pick), we can target a position (which is a poor draft strategy and depending on position would be bad asset management), and we can get a guy who can be part of the core now and for the next few years (unlike a pick who might not be a core player until Chabot is 28). If we were early on in the rebuild I wouldn't trade the pick as I would want as many prospects as possible. But at this stage of the rebuild I want specific holes in the roster filled, as I think many roster spots are filled for the foreseeable future.
