Quoting: justaBoss
Generally speaking it's always a better idea to draft the BPA and not look at the positional need. Lafreniere was No. 1 at the draft day, and considering that he's still the one who plays in the NHL while the other one is in the AHL until recently I'd argue Laf still has the edge.
What NYR couldn't have projected is the fact that their other LWs stepped up their game to the point where Laffy simply is stuck in that system. And now that they're competing the positional importance is looming back.
If NYR had foreseen the events from year and a half ago, they probably would have picked Byfield. But it's hard to project future, is it.
Regardless, I'm of the opinion that as of now in a Byfield-Lafreniere swap there's no real losers. I think both benefit of this one.
I agree with BPA theory, for sure. At the time, given the uncertainty surrounding prospect development, it made sense to draft Laffy because the eventual top level skill was so close to each other. It was just more likely in Laffy.
As far as a swap being as beneficial for both sides, I disagree from an LA perspective. As much as Turcotte and Vilardi are good players, they aren't --in my opinion-- future 1Cs. With Kopitar coming into his mid 30's, the Kings need an inheritance plan. And Danault doesn't fit the 1C role either. Byfield is the closest thing the Kings have.
In addition, both Turcotte and Vilardi are more than capable of moving to the wing. Its where they are playing now, actually. Vilardi is learning as a winger for the first time in the AHL (which is why he hasn't been called up yet despite being over a PPG pace), and Turcotte as a LW in his stint in the NHL.
Personally, I view an elite 1C as more important than an elite 1W, assuming both Laffy and Byfield hit their peak. So I wouldn't trade the two at the moment.