Why can't Avs draft good LDs? Barron, Byram, Helleson, Timmins and Makar are all RDs.
I guess we can hope for a Ivan Drago training regimen for Zhuravlyov, so he can break the NHL from the left side.
In terms of succession planning on D we actually have the optimal number of LHD/RHD split right now.
Toews -------- Makar
Girard -------- Johnson
Graves -------- Cole
Byram -------- Timmins
Gilbert -------- Barron
Zhuravlyov --- Helleson
At RHD, Timmins should replace Cole by next season. The developmental timeline of Barron and Helleson (~2-3 years) also lines up perfectly with Johnson's decline, thus giving us two good shots at replacing him internally.
At LHD we are clearly well set in the top 6, but one way or another Byram will work his way in, whether by taking Cole's spot, or replacing Graves outright if Seattle select Graves in the expansion draft for example.
That said, if one were to be nitpicky, we could do with a left-sided version of Helleson or Barron in the system who is ~3 years away as well, in order to allow ourselves some flexibility 3 years from now when Byram's ELC is up; Toews will be 1 year from UFA; and presumably Graves will be gone by then as well whether by ExD, trade, or UFA. However, that is a long way off still, and this is something that can be fixed in a timely manner simply by drafting a LHD or two in the 2021 draft.