While drafting for need is sometimes silly, it makes sense when our core players are so young and locked up with the team somewhat long-term. I think it's clear we need one of two things:
1. A defenceman with offensive potential
2. A winger that can put the puck in the net
There are three elite options at winger - Zadina, Svechnikov, and Tkachuk. Any of the three would be attractive options to add to Puljujarvi and hopefully Yamamoto, but the elite offensive talent of Zadina and Svechnikov sure looks mouth-watering. After those three, most of the top-ranked forwards are centremen outside of Wahlstrom who could slide to the wing.
There are two elite defencemen available in Dahlin and Boqvist. Fortunately, there are a plethora of other top-ranked offensive defencemen who could be available if we don't slide down to the bottom 5 (which I suspect will be a long-shot).
Defenceman:
1. Quinn Hughes - 12 points in 18 games as a freshman at Michigan; left-shooting
2. Noah Dobson - 40 points in 43 games in the QMJHL; right-shooting and bigger
3. Bode Wilde - 6 points in 9 games in the USHL; left-shooting, bigger, and a huge shot
4. Ty Smith - 42 points in 43 games in the WHL; left-shooting, creative offensively
5. Evan Bouchard - 50 points in 42 games in the OHL; right-shooting, bigger
Any of those three would look great in the pipeline. I'm a little biased towards Ty Smith, because I watched him play at the Mac's tournament here in Calgary, but all five can put up some points and add some creativity to the blueline.
Long story short, while missing the playoffs totally sucks, at least there are some viable options that address needs assuming we draft in the top 12 or so.