If their kids "aren't that talented" we are in deep $#*!. Grigo, Risto, Zadorov, have a lot higher ceilings than anyone we have in our organization. Those three constitute a potential first pairing on the blueline and a potential superstar center.
By comparison the Jackets have one potential first pairing defender in Murray and we don't have a single potential star forward in the system. (Jenner, Johansen, Atkinson, Rychel, Dano may become first line players but none of them are anywhere close to superstar material). We are rebuilding our culture, however our team is not going to be an elite team unless we get some amazing luck with the prospects we have. We simply don't have the elite talent necessary to compete for championships while teams like Buffalo are stockpiling talent during their rebuild something which we haven't had the opportunity to do.
Depending on the return for Vanek and Miller (which should be fairly high), I expect Buffalo to be a powerhouse because of the talent they have in their pipeline (provided they can create an environment more akin to Colorado than Edmonton). Particularly when you add in the fact that during the next two years they likely are going to be in the sweepstakes for 1st overall pick (Ekblad/Reinhart this year, and the next generational talent in McDavid in 2015). Buffalo could be the next Chicago/Pittsburgh if things pan out right for them.
