When an organization is successful it takes a toll on their high end talent. Not only are first-round picks traded away, all of the other picks from other rounds are lower. A San Jose Sharks second-round pick is different than a Florida Panthers second-round pick this summer. So, successful teams have to find another way to bring potential NHL talent into their organization. European free agents is one way to do it. Undrafted college free agents is another.
The Lightning have used this method in the past, J.T. Brown and Andrej Sustr are two names that come to mind, but it’s been a few years since they’ve been able to lure a college free agent into the fold.