While you’re not wrong, the reality is 3rd+ rounders are long term projects if they make it at all, which the overwhelming majority don’t. Only something like 1/10 3rd picks become NHLers, and the results get worse from there later rounds go.
While these players listed eventually got to the NHL, on average it took 5+ years for them to get there and it’s debatable how effective they even were in some cases when they made it initially. It might be 7-8 years before you have a truly effective player.
Even if we hit on one of these players in just a few months, in June, they won’t be of any help to our current core players while they try to win in their prime.
Engvall: drafted 2014 -> NHL 2019/20
Brown: drafted 2012 -> NHL 2015/16
Holmberg: drafted 2018 -> NHL 2022/23
Johnsson: drafted 2013 -> NHL 2017/18
Woll: drafted 2016 -> NHL 2022/23
Verhaeghe: drafted 2013 -> NHL 2019/20
Eventually all the traded picks will catch up with us, and hard, as they do with all teams that sustain a long period of trying to win, and we’re going to be very bad, but that’s the price you pay. Let’s just hope we have the success we’re looking for before we get there.
People should be prepared to watch the draft capital continue to be dealt for the next 4 years minimum. Not saying keep nothing, but the dealing of picks isn’t going to stop. Best we can hope for is they are used wisely.