Drafting history over the last two decades has shown time and time again, that picking the forward (and specially Center) is the no-brainer way to go when you have the top pick. Short of freak years like 2003 where the crop is amazingly deep, true elite #1 Centers are almost non-existent outside of the Top 5. There have been plenty of elite d-men picked out of that range...often times outside of the 1st round altogether. Even in Doughty's year (where he was #2), there were some really solid d-men picked after him in Pietrangelo and Karlsson that one could build a d-core around. Doughty might be the best d-man picked this decade...but I doubt you'd find many GM's who would take him over Stamkos (picked #1 that year).
Yes, we need Dmen. But we still need Centers too. Most Cup contenders have two great centermen... and as much as I like him, I think Monahan is the type of guy who would be that great 2nd line guy on a Stanley Cup winner. While I don't think he's the second coming of Stamkos, Reinhart might be that #1. While we all hold out hope for McDavid next year, it would be foolish to try to wait for that to happen.
I think it's pretty easy. If you have the #1 pick, ignore the hype and the noise, and go for the Forward. You always go for the Forward.
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