See below:
Not that it's happening in this thread, but I saw a couple comments on Twitter about how Maroon, Kassian, Lucic, etc. have given the Oilers this new found toughness and therefore the JV pick is somehow justified because there's this new supposed proof that toughness is important. Certainly don't disagree that the Oilers have a new identity, but it's because they landed a generational player and another franchise piece in Draisaitl, not because of how they rounded out their roster. Ottawa is another example of a team that rounded out their roster with players like Stalberg and Burrows to complement their franchise talent in Karlsson.
Of course, Benning seems to have the opposite view where he's looking to plug in tough, "heavy" players with lower offensive upside in the top-6 and weak, skilled tweeners in the middle-6. Foundational over franchise.
Ya people who say this are ... not bright. You build a core with skill, then add complimentary pieces like Maroon, Lucic last. You don't expend assets trying to acquire them before you have your McDavid, Draisaitl, etc core in place.
Like I get why they traded 16th + 33rd for Griffen Reinhart back in 2015. It was a dumb move because they mis-evaluated Reinhart but it was the right *idea* for where they were at the time. They eventually got it right trading Hall for Larsson. Expensive but it was what their team needed to move out of "rebuilding" into "competing".
It's also why I have no ****ing idea why we traded McCann + 33rd for Gudbranson before our rebuild had even started.