Better players come from more than just the draft, though. Our farm system should be cultivating talent for the big club. FAs are a possibility. Playing players to their strengths will also help in team performance. The mindset that drafting high will fix our problems is misguided. I understand the excitement this year due to the Ottawa pick, but the Avs’ pick shouldn’t be in a range where it can affect the NHL team. It’s a failure that it is.
Well said. Even the Bolts have whiffed at the draft. Everyone does. But the Bolts don't care where they find talent. The Avs appear to be adopting a similar mindset (I know he ain't popular around here, but I still think Alex Kerfoot was a fantastic pickup) but they haven't gone far enough. I still think that scouting department needs to be overhauled at all levels, and I'm still rather perplexed as to how in hell Billington still has his job.
Sakic and Roy did try to really boost the flagging prospect base by signing all those Euro FAs, kinda strange to me that they abandoned that strategy so suddenly. I suppose they did run into some contract limit trouble so maybe that's why.