Originally Posted by
stevegamer
First thing here, is that you can't really draft for a rebuild, since you aren't 're'building, a long build yes. Unfortunately, this seems to be a thing people do a lot in inaugural drafts. Once you start down that path, you need a plan, and a timeline, and you at least have an idea of when you want to flip the switch, but it's not easy as flipping that switch.
The really bad news is that team you linked is not very old, and will probably still be just fine in 3 years. They have Stastny, Pietrangelo, Edler, and Martinez at 30+, and Martinez is really just a spare 7th D.
You say you want a top young defenseman. Isn't Dahlin that guy? Or Werenski? Or McAvoy? That's a strength of yours, actually. If you think you need one of those, you need to think again.
I feel you need to focus less on new picks/prospects and aim for some younger talent that should not bust, or at least won't bust before reaching the NHL as a regular; also, some older players that are minors eligible, or can be that 6th-7th D or 12th-13th forward you need. Don't worry about age, but find somebody who's useful in FA. Or give a couple of your suspect prospects to a rebuilder for a guy in the NHL who doesn't have super sexy upside, but is a solid roster guy.
That goalie scoring is asking for you to lock down volume starters, even on bad teams.
I do like the names of defunct teams in that league, very nice. Good luck.