I want Byfield + Raymond more than I want to breathe.

same honestly. Id settle for Stutzle + Rossi if it didnt happen

Why not Stuzle + Raymond?

Just in case Stutzle doesnt pan out as a centre, we wouldnt have a 1C

True but there is always another draft or free agency or the potential for Norris or Brown or even Batherson has spent time at 1C in Belleville. IMO we need to get goal scorers or players that will help us score, we have no true high end sniper on the team

I think Stutzle is great, but if I had to custom build a player who I thought was everything Ottawa needed, it would be Byfield.

I would definitely take Stutzle and Raymond though.

I agree with you in Byfields size / style is perfect for a 1C but the size and style is no good if the player never progresses

I don't have the same worries about him not progressing. He might take an extra year in the O because he's so young, but I think he's going to be a Star.

That'd be a pretty sick draft and even better lineup in the next couple of years. Definitely have something special brewing in Ottawa.

Raymond won't crack the top 5 so he's not really Ottawa's concern. He definitely has Mitch Marner upside but there are too many red flags in his game to take him over guys like Rossi or Drysdale. Even without those red flags, I think Rossi is a much better player. For me, there are a clear top 3 and top 5 players in this draft and then 6-12ish gets a bit interchangeable. The fact that Ottawa will (or at least can) get one of Byfield/Stutzle and one of Rossi/Drysdale is what really should give us that feeling.

What do you mean by red flags? I have him 4th. He's one of the best skaters in the draft, he's an elite playmaker who can shoot the puck, forechecks hard and plays a solid two way game. He's a little on the smaller side, but not outrageously small, and he'll have the time to put on the needed bulk before he's NHL bound. He's a great fit for what Ottawa needs in their forward group. They don't have any forwards who carry the puck in transition at an elite level like that. Add in the Frolunda factor and I think it's a near perfect match.

I'd take him before Perfetti or Rossi, and I think they need two forwards more than they need a Dman so I'd take him over Drysdale too.

I ****ing love that first 4 picks.

The 33OA is where I want to be taking our first non forward (unless Sanderson or Askarov fall to NYI 1st)