The need for RHD with Pietrangelo and Parayko anchoring the right side makes that a lesser issue in my eyes. Unless you believe Pietrangelo isn't getting re-signed, there isn't a huge glaring need on RD in the short-mid term. A bottom pairing RD isn't a huge problem to acquire on the UFA market if Bortuzzo becomes untenable.
LD becomes a problem with JBo aging, Gunny's fit & future in question between age/injury, Edmundson's inconsistencies and only Dunn viewed as a long-term LD. That leaves 2 slots to fill on the left in the short-mid term if you are of the opinion that Eddy isn't a great fit for us. Perunovich and Mikkola are question marks for top 4 roles, leaving that top 4 LD gap needing filling - unless you believe DA is going to address it via trade/UFA. Is Dunn a 1 LD? 2 LD? 3 LD and PPQB specialist? Depending on your answer, Eddy is less of a liability if he's kept in the 2/3 LD role but there's still a gap to fill there.
The "consistent issue" part of my previous post was poorly worded - we're loaded with RW prospects, and have Tarasenko at the top of the depth chart on the RW. If the BPA is a RW, I'd be hesitant to snag another RW, given the lack of prospects elsewhere and our current long-term players in other positions. Given that our first pick is in the 2nd round we're not likely to be getting a blue chip prospect, the player will be a multi year project - I'd like to see that player possibly able to take over for an older player who doesn't project beyond the short term for us. That list in my eyes is JBo, Gunny, Bortz, Maroon, Bozak, Eddy, Perron, Steen and a 1/2 LW. This leaves multiple openings on the LD and LW to fill, plus a middle 6 centre if Thomas is kept on the wing, with a number of prospects in our system that project as 2/3rd pairing LD and middle/bottom sixers. We should be looking for a potential 1 LD project or defensively coachable LW with top line upside as only Schwartz is a top 6 LW with term.
@Beauterham does this better justify why I view LD/LW as a 2nd round target for need? Later round picks tend to be bottom 6/bottom 4 type players if they reach the NHL - a 2nd rounder is more probable projecting into a top 6/top 4 role (though far from a sure-fire thing). We lack top end prospects everywhere except the RW, so I'd be irritated to see a RW drafted with our 1st available pick.
