I know we traded our 1st to Calgary as part of the Markstrom trade, but don't we currently have three 2nd round picks next year?
We have our own, we got one from Winnipeg for Toffoli and two (one this year & next) from Utah for Marino.
Obviously if we're in the playoff hunt at the deadline we'll dangle them for upgrade(s), but I think it's unlikely we won't have at least a single pick in the 2nd round next year.
Forgot about Marino deal. It should help. To make a trade on the deadline)
I believe Fitz is trying to win now. For me its some kind of okay strategy, but he should draft guys like Mustard or Krutov if you have no high picks. Or He, or Shuravin or even Poirier. We could end this draft with two or even three players with top-9 potential and top-6 ceiling. We drafted bunch of role players. I like Traff, but thats all. Thats all wev got. Guys who will become less productive Coleman if everything will go really well. I know, minimal percent of those high ceiling picks will develop into the NHLers but I believe its the same risk as for role players - may be even there are less risks. We drafted Bratt, Sharangovich and Gritsyuk - two of them are on the NHL deals, Gritsyuk has at least very good KHL career. What do we have from those role players? Nothing.
So, please, you, north americans, go find this Fitzy guy and tell him to start do his job and think about tomorrow. We already have nothing to add to the forward group because of how he drafted forwards in 20 and 21.
If he will continue to dump high picks away and draft players for checking role on the right wing - some day we will have one checking right winger. May be.