I agree with the philosophy. But this team is basically starting at ground zero. Their best players right now are an in your nose 2nd liner and an elite offensive d-man who is awful defensively. There are holes everywhere. 2 wingers with the top 2 picks would not waste away this rebuild, nor would picking 2 centres or 2 defencemen.

What will waste away the rebuild is not developing the prospects we pick well.

I am thoroughly ok with taking the best player available this year. Once we draft this year, you can get a little more picky in future drafts. The positional need of this team is literally everything.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I see where you're coming from, but I guess I just have a bit more optimism about the current state. Chabot, Tkachuk, White, and Hogberg are the NHL-level foundation, but I'd say Brannstrom, Thomson, and Bernard-Docker have pretty good top-4 potential. Similarly, the combination of Batherson, Norris, Formenton, and Pinto have pretty solid 2nd/3rd line potential. That leaves a lot of room for high-end talent, but I wouldn't say it's too early to be thinking about positions strategically... especially with the general bias in this year's draft for quality forwards, and the apparent bias in next year's draft for quality defence. As such, their best chance to address the #1C position is this year with the 3/5 picks.

One point I'm glad you raised, though, is that Chabot needs a lot more support than he's been getting - and piling on more offensive d-men beyond what they have in Brannstrom, Thomson, and Wolanin isn't going to help with that. They would be wise to consider adding some quality physical/defensive-minded d-men, who could support Chabot/Brannstrom like Methot used to with Karlsson. In many ways, Braden Schneider looks like an ideal RHD candidate - because he has the skating and two-way game to complement his physical style. Given their penchant for drafting University of North Dakota players, I wouldn't be surprised at all if Tyler Kleven was on their radar in the 2nd round - and a potential sleeper pick that I've been looking into more is Simon Kubicek (WHL), who's a projected mid-round pick but is a 6'2/205 RHD with solid WJC-20 experience with the Czech Republic.

Point is: Ottawa NEEDS a true 1C. That's how this whole argument started. Forget about St. Louis and other teams. No one currently in our system will be a true blue elite center. We NEED either Stützle/Byfield or Rossi.

If Ottawa walks away from the 2020 draft with Raymond on the wing and Jamie Drysdale, we should all consider that a loss.
- PavohnDatsvares

Also;

I understand Grand Pa's point that we have a lot of centers in the system, and we need more wing (especially RW), but the fact remains that a lot of these centers aren't good enough to be 1C's, and a lot of these guys end up on the wing anyways. For example, Drake Batherson was drafted as a center, and now he's a RW.

Incase I didn't say so earlier, personally, I most want Byfield/Stützle and Raymond/Holtz. That would address BOTH center AND right wing. But Dorion is probably gonna take a D man at #5. I would bet money on it.

Also;

I understand Grand Pa's point that we have a lot of centers in the system, and we need more wing (especially RW), but the fact remains that a lot of these centers aren't good enough to be 1C's, and a lot of these guys end up on the wing anyways. For example, Drake Batherson was drafted as a center, and now he's a RW.

Incase I didn't say so earlier, personally, I most want Byfield/Stützle and Raymond/Holtz. That would address BOTH center AND right wing. But Dorion is probably gonna take a D man at #5. I would bet money on it.
- PavohnDatsvares

Let’s hope Dorian picks a defenseman at #5. The Sens are as weak here as they are at center. Sanderson or Drysdale should be far better than all of the current prospects in the system now. This is a very strong draft year so they will hit a home run with either one. Unfortunately it seems the Senators will be forced to take the left overs for pick 3 and 5. The LA Kings will probably take Stutzle at 2 leaving us with Byfield and Detroit who’s biggest need is defense will probably take Sanderson leaving us with Drysdale which isn’t a bad consolation prize. If both defensemen are still available at #5 I would think the Sens would pick Sanderson, the deciding factor being he is committed to play for the University of North Dakota where a lot of their top prospects play.

Point is: Ottawa NEEDS a true 1C. That's how this whole argument started. Forget about St. Louis and other teams. No one currently in our system will be a true blue elite center. We NEED either Stützle/Byfield or Rossi.

If Ottawa walks away from the 2020 draft with Raymond on the wing and Jamie Drysdale, we should all consider that a loss.
- PavohnDatsvares

I agree 2 elite forwards let's go