No matter how you cut it we do not have anyone we can call a first line forward. We have some forwards who have shown from time to time that they are deserving of second line status--Ennis, Hodgson, Stafford, Stewart-assuming you want someone on the second line who has shown the potential of 25-30 goals and maybe 60 points. We have a bunch of hopefuls with energy and a bit of offensive talent but not likely to ever get 20 in consecutive years-Girgensons, Foligno, DesLaurier, Larsson. We have a bunch of guys for whom we have high hopes but have not really blown me away after they got selected-Armia, Grigorenko--and guys who have not yet hit the North American pros in whom we place the highest of hopes-Fasching, Possler, Baptiste, Carrier, Compher, Bailey, Hurley. If anyone sees first line potential in any of those guys I hope you are right--I do not. They will be fighting with the guys we already have for second and third line duty. Murray MUST find a first line combo that deserves to be called a first line in the NHL and that means at least 2 great players who have speed and offensive flair. Please choose wisely Mr. M.
I get your point, but you don't group all your 1st line players onto a line. Malkin and Crosby are on different lines, and make anyone they play with effective. That's what Buffalo's after. I think Buffalo has the perfect set of prospects and young players to integrate those top line players.
Assume Buffalo had no first rounders this year or in 2015. Then fast forward to around 2016-2017. Here's Buffalo's possible lines:
Foligno - Ennis - Armia
Hodgson - Grigorenko - Fasching
Deslauciers - Larsson - Compher
Carrier - Schaller/Kea - Bailey/Baptiste/Flynn
Not bad, but not great unless Ennis, Grigorenko, and Hodgson develop into first line talents (which, BTW, is still possible). And the team is hoping a lot of their prospects pan out.
Now, add in the 2014 and 2015 first rounder, and assume Buffalo takes Sam Reinhart and either Eichel or McDavid. Now check out the lines:
Grigorenko - McDavid/Eichel - Armia
Ennis - Reinhart - Hodgson
Foligno - Girgensons - Fasching
Carrier - Larsson - Deslauciers
Switch them up however you'd like. But now the 2nd line talent you mentioned (Ennis, Hodgson) are elevated by elite talent. All the energy players you mentioned are 3rd and 4th lines - which is where most teams put those players.
For the hopefuls you listed, they top out one the 3rd line on the example lines I posted. And players like Compher, Hurley, Baptiste, Bailey, Schaller, Kea, Possler, etc. aren't even in the mix in the lines I put up, so there's built in competition.
Adding in the centers/forwards that Buffalo should get this year and next will completely change the dynamic of the team. If those forwards/centers pan out, everyone's play will be elevated, and everyone will eventually shake out to be on the right line. And with the prospect depth Buffalo has now, 4-6 forwards could not pan out, and the team is still in good shape.
The last time Buffalo had this amount of young depth in the system was right before and around the first lockout, when Regier built the 2005-2007 teams. And this team has way more depth. Not worried and really excited for the future.
we could put bets on Reinhart out scoring Leino in his 9 game tryout 
