The ideal trade would be to figure out a team that is about to fall out of the playoffs or bottom out next couple of years and trade for their picks. Teams that might be hanging on for one more kick at the can. Pittsburgh maybe? Washington? Islanders?
What JR is capable of doing is almost like a kid building a fantasy hockey team from the ground up/ The next two years to clean up and build up the cupboard and then 2 years to polish off and improve the team.
I looked at the FA market for 2024/2025, it is fairly impressive and by then this team should have mega cap space to pluck some really good veteran cheap players to support a youngish core.
Size in the playoffs is still gold, an ordinary, even a less than great player that has size, like Gudbranson did, can make a dent way bigger than the easy season when whistles are blown for hallucinations.
Guys like Hughes entertain the fans during the regular season but if not given protected minutes in the playoffs, are deficiencies 5 on 5 or PK.
If this does end up a scorched earth rebuild just about any player might be available if willing to over pay. Miller will be around for another 18 months, Horvat maybe the same, Boeser has to go, Hughes or Petey.
What would it take to get Dahlin? They just drafted Power so they have another super stud coming up.
So over pay for Dahlin, apart from first round picks what would it take to get him?
IMO any of the above greatly improve Buffalo subtracting years from their current rebuild.