Probably not. Byfield's almost as good option as Lafreniere is.

No. There's a gap between Lafreniere and Byfield, but Byfield is still going to be a legitimate superstar centre, which they haven't had since Spezza.

Add in the fact that there will still be some studs available at 12th, Ottawa would be better off keeping the two picks.

Also have you watched the Sharks? No chance that pick falls out of the top ten.

Stutzle too... I think a team like DET might take Stutzle instead of Byfield if they have the choice. The top 3 is really solid this year.

Well Wings seem to like their Germans... Just drafted Seider and all.

Stutzle>Byfield

That would be quite the coup

As long as the Wings don’t fall out of the top three they’re in good shape.

I can't see Ottawa moving 2 and say 12 but is it possible they draft Byfield or stutz and move the 12th pick for other pieces, maybe.

Detroit has drafted 1 German both Edmonton and Pittsburgh have drafted 2 each recently. The only way Detroit takes Stutzle is if they end up with the 3rd pick. Lafreniere has put a good amount of distance between him and Byfield. I do agree with Claesson4Norris that Byfield is going to be a superstar. If it was a toss up between Lafreniere and Byfield I think Detroit would take Byfield because center is their weakest forward position. It's not even so you have to take best available and that is Lafreniere. Now who do you take at #4?

Stutzle hopefully if he's available, which I think there is a good chance he will be. Rossi might be a good option as well, he's scoring at a pace better than Laf. You can't really go wrong with Raymond either at 4. One of Stutzle, Rossi, and Raymond will be available, and I would be happy with any of them.

I have Stutzel above Raymond because he can play center. What about Askarov and Drysdale? I ask because those are the 2 positions that need the most work.

I have Stutzle above Raymond as well, as I have basically all year. I think his numbers don't lie, and as you said, the fact he could play center really intrigues me. I'm not a fan of drafting goalies anywhere in lottery picks, especially our top 4 pick, so that eliminates Askarov for me. Even though he's a really special prospect, goaltenders can come out of the 3rd or 4th round and be studs as well, a lot more often than players can. I would love Drysdale if he was a lefty and still can't completely eliminate us from picking him at 4th, but we already have Seider and Hronek on that right side. And yes goaltender and defense do need a lot of work, but I think we need at least one or more high end players at literally every position, so I don't think we should draft based on position, and for me that bumps Askarov and Drysdale out of the top 4.

Ya and after the WJC I've seen Askarov and Drysdale drop a lot in projections. Askarov didn't have the best tournament. I agree with not drafting him. Way too big of a risk. You can get either Marc-Andre Fleury or Rick DePietro (Both 1st overall goalies).