An asset is an asset. I would take second rounders in '18 and '19 for Regehr's washed up ace. He has no value to us. Best (or worst if you want mckinnon) case scenario is the Sabres sneak into an 8 seed only to be swept be the Pens. Take what you can get. It's not like prospects develop on a set time frame. 1 year difference in the development of a second round pick is not much at all.
Anyway, I want the Sabes to win a cup more than anything other than them winning two or three. You need a steady flow of young and cheap players to do so. Only lunatic sports fans criticize thinking in the long term.
Maybe I'm just biased as a 19 year old but, I would be cool with them waiting to win until i'm 21 and can legally riot in the streets of buffalo with the rest of you