Juxtaposer
Outro: Divina Comedia
They're expensive, no doubt, but there's not an exit strategy or way to make them go away anytime in the next 3-4 years most likely so not really sure what you're going to do with them? Can't buy them out without big penalties and Karlsson and Vlasic can't be buried in the minors with their NMCs. Also, I will give you Knyzhov as not an established guy (as I pointed out in my post) but Ferraro is about as established as you can be at this juncture as an NHL D-Man.
If there is not a center there (think Johnson will be there) then trade down and pick up more draft picks. Clarke would be about the only D-Man I would consider at 7. Won't be a big haul to move down given this year's draft class, but rather trade back into the mid-late first and get a center than take a D-Man this year, especially a LH shot D-Man.
So you’d rather have a potential 2C than a potential top pairing defenseman? Also Johnson is not a center.
Ferraro is not a top pairing guy and neither is Knyzhov or Vlasic. We very much need a future top-pairing LHD. If Power or Hughes is available, you 100% take them. I’m even coming round a little on Edvinsson, although I still prefer McTavish and Svechkov to him.
I understand the desire for a center but there is no can’t miss center in this draft and drafting a center with a lower ceiling just because he’s a center is idiotic. If it’s McTavish vs. Lysell, I can at least understand that. But if it’s McTavish vs. Guenther or Eklund or Hughes, you’re tripping.