The third mock Hockey Buzz mock draft driven by the readers and a few special guests kicked off Monday. Representing the Rangers, I selected Alexis Lafreniere, which had an 88% approval rate out of 357 responses. The Kings' selected Quinton Byfield, which had an 77% approval rate, while the Senators' pick of Tim Sturzle was favored by 93% of voters. Detroit, represented by feds91stammer, grabbed Marco Rossi with pollsters evenly split on this compared to others still available. Ottawa's second pick in the first five selection is below. Anaheim, with optimus-rein picking, is on the clock with New Jersey, represented by red monsters, on deck. Below are the voting polls, please weigh in with your view.
As a reminder, for each pick, included should be: a) Selection and reasoning/scouting report, and, b) Alternatives considered (both players and trades). Please provide me via email your pick with the aforementioned information following the posting of the prior pick on the site. If I become aware of a pick or a few picks in a row, I will email you to help facilitate moving the mock draft along. I will post the blog with the pick and the voting poll within each blog.
Overall Rules and Process
As mentioned previously, there is a little kicker. After the pick or trade is made, a poll will be posted to rate the selection or deal. If the majority of people like the pick or trade, that selection stands and it moves on to the next team’s picks. If not, the majority rules and that’s what happens with that team and pick. I have the last right of refusal to keep everything on the up and up and avoid ballot box stuffing.
My request to you is that you take this seriously and not make a mockery of the mock draft, because that would be an insult to the others who are participating and makes the whole process a sham. But by playing this out, we get to have healthy debate and conversation to remain engaged up and possibly beyond the draft. If teams make deals and they occur before a team’s selection is due, that deal will play a part as to when each person’s selection occurs.
Here how this will work: the team’s selector will email me at [email protected] their pick, rationale and any alternatives for that selection. I will post that pick and rationale on the site and create a voting poll. That poll will likely include alternatives that were considered with each voter allowed to select one option.
With the 5th Overall Pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, the Ottawa Senators represented by spatso, select Cole Perfetti, LW, Saginaw (OHL)
Rationale for the selection with scouting report along with alternatives considered (both players and trades):
Foiled again. Multiple Hail Mary’s were said in hope that the Hockey God might intervene and help Byfield slide by the LA Kings in order that he might play on a Sens future first line with Brady Tkachuck. But, it was not to be. The consolation prize of Tim Stutzle caused us to get over our sorrows quickly.
The next step in our plan was to take Marco Rossi at #5. A great playmaker who plays with great passion and intensity. However, Detroit stepped in and scooped Rossi right from under our noses. Rossi plays here in Ottawa and he is a huge fan favourite. We wish him well in his Detroit career. They have taken a player that Wing fans will love.
We had one offer seeking for us to trade the #5. The Leafs offered Nylander straight up for the pick. But, it was not really a very practical option. The Senators are not ready to compete for a playoff spot and Nylander simply does not mesh with the Sens long term development horizon. There is a tentative understanding that the Leafs and Sens will talk again. The Sens have 3 first round picks. Perhaps something can be done with the 28th overall pick.
The choice of Perfetti was a close call involving a need to reweigh the previous evaluations of Raymond, Drysdale and Sanderson.
Both Drysdale and Sanderson have strong NHL futures. Sanderson might be more appealing because he has the size and some sandpaper in his game. But, we passed on the idea of taking another defenseman at this time. Ottawa already has a strong base of developing youngd efensemen within their system. We also have a young stallion in Thomas Chabot who logs huge ice time every game and is just beginning an 8 year contract. There are some very good physical defensemen deeper in the draft and no doubt the Sens will use several picks to load up on character players for the back end.
Raymond is highly appealing. Good speed, shot and vision. He can handle the physical play. He has performed well on the big stage but he has also disappointed. Too many questions.
Although Perfetti has not had the grand light of the World Juniors he performed really well at the Ivan Hlinka where he was the top scorer with 12 points in 5 games. He has a strong shot from good, soft hands and he is comfortable in the attack zone using an outstanding shot and going strong to the net and getting his nose dirty when the opportunity arises. He has strong offensive skills but has not fully developed his defensive game. He will likely spend another year in junior including taking a leading role for Canada at the World Juniors. I do not expect that Perfetti will be on the ice for the Sens’ opening night game.
TSN: Bob Mackenzie
Perfetti doesn’t have blinding straight-line, beat-you-to-the-outside speed, but it’s a testament to his elite hockey sense, creativity and goal-scoring ability that he still cracked TSN’s Top 5. “He makes plays out of nothing,” a scout said. “He’s not a fast skater but he’s quick when he needs to be, very agile, moves well laterally and creates space for himself to make plays or score.”
Sportsnet: Sam Cosentino
Sixth sense for where, when and how to get to a place to create good scoring opportunities
individually or for teammates.
The Draft Analyst
Perfetti is a lethal scorer who possesses an arsenal of deadly moves…tortures opponents with keen vision and elite playmaking…second to Marco Rossi in scoring…dangerous in the open ice and off the cycle….an elite shot…the sky is the limit for this rising star.
2020 NHL DRAFT FIRST-ROUND ORDER AND GMs
1. New York Rangers - Jan Levine - Alexis Lafreniere, LW, Rimouski, OMJHL
2. Los Angeles Kings - Kooleus, Quinton Byfield, C, Sudbury, OHL
3. Ottawa Senators (via San Jose Sharks) - spatso, Tim Stutzle, C, Mannheim, DEL
4. Detroit Red Wings - feds91stammer, Marco Rossi, C, Ottawa, OHL
5. Ottawa Senators - spatso, Cole Perfetti, LW, Saginaw, OHL
6. Anaheim Ducks - optimus-reim, Luke Herrington, Wednesday. Sept. 16 pm
7. New Jersey Devils - redmonsters, Kevin Barrett, Thursday, Sept 17 am
8. Buffalo Sabres - KilkennyDan, Dan Sovocol, Thursday. Sept. 17 pm
9. Minnesota Wild - dudestar, Nicholas Plazio, Friday. Sept. 18 am
10. Winnipeg Jets - Ross77, Darren Ross, Friday, Sept. 18 around 6pm, then a break
11. Nashville Predators - slimtj, TJ Reilly, Monday, Sept. 21 am
12. Florida Panthers - jimbo, Jimmy Reilly, Monday, Sept. 21 pm
13. Carolina Hurricanes (via Toronto Maple Leafs) - Bingo, Chris Cote, Tuesday, Sept. 22 am
14. Edmonton Oilers - maximumbone, Silas Bengtsson, Tuesday, Sept. 22 pm
15. Toronto Maple Leafs (via Pittsburgh Penguins) - Michael Augello, Leafs blogger on site, Wednesday, Sept. 23 am
16. Montreal Canadiens - Vivian Lapeirre, bi-lingual, Wednesday, Sept. 23 pm
17. Chicago Blackhawks - Theo Fox, Chicago blogger on site, Thursday, Sept. 24 am
18. New Jersey Devils (from Arizona) - redmonsters, Kevin Barrett, Thursday, Sept. 24 pm
19. Calgary Flames - deddie, Dan Ethier, Friday, Sept. 25 am
20. New Jersey Devils (from Vancouver via Tampa Bay) - redmonsters, Kevin Barrett, Friday, Sept 25 pm
21. Columbus Blue Jackets, Thomas Townsend, Columbus blogger on site, Sunday, Sept. 27 am
22. New York Rangers (from Carolina) - Jan, Tuesday Sept. 29 am
23. Philadelphia Flyers - Flyersfan328, Phil Brunner, Tuesday Sept. 29 pm
24. Colorado Avalanche - climbdenali12, Ryan Armstrong, Wednesday, Sept. 30 am
25. Washington Capitals - winerydog, Wednesday, Sept. 30 pm
26. St. Louis Blues, jediman, Brendan Smith, Thursday, Oct. 1 in am
27. Anaheim Ducks (from Boston) - optimus-reim, Luke Herrington, Thursday, Oct. 1 in pm
28-31. Pick order TBD - picks will be Friday, Oct. 2 in am, Friday, Oct 2 around 5 pm, - Monday Oct 5 in am and Monday, Oct 5 inpm
Dallas (Russ Cohen, sportsology)
Vegas (JRR1285, Josh Ruiz)
Ottawa (acquired from New York Islanders in JG Pageau deal - spatso)
San Jose (acquired from Tampa Bay in Barclay Goodrow deal (Jeremy Barber, user id: barberjw, email: barbjw26@gmail) -
Looking forward to running this again. We had a ton of fun last season. That should be the same again this year with New York having the first and 22nd picks in the first round.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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