Could you imagine how awful we would be if we didn't have such a positive history with late rounders and EU/Undrafted free agents:
9th Overall-17th Overall-9th Overall
Trade (1st)-Trade (2x1st)-7th Round
EU FA-2nd Round-6th Round
EU FA-EU FA-EU FA
Undrafted FA
2nd-7th
7th-Trade (3x1st)
Trade-6th
EU FA
Trade (1st)
Undrafted FA
It's almost like Wilson has decided he needs to use his high picks to get the team's backbone, because he won't be able to draft them in the late 1st. Barring another Joe Thornton trade, the reign as consistent playoff team and frequent albeit middling contender, is likely coming to an end, but hats of to Wilson for building a team in a non-traditional sense. If we can stumble our way into a top 15 C, Wilson can probably pillage the Euro leagues and find a few more late rounders to get us back to contender status.