The fourth mock Hockey Buzz mock draft driven by the readers and a few special guests is underway. Hank Bailing did not go off the board with the Sabres pick, selecting Owen Power first overall, while Sean Maloughney took Matthew Beniers as the first ever Seattle draft pick and Ryan Armstrong completed the Michigan trifecta with Kent Johnson. Zabber selected Luke Hughes with the Devils' pick. Slimtj selected Simon Edvinsson for Columbus with fed91stammer's grabbing William Eklund for Detroit.
Hockeygm traded San Jose’s pick to Ottawa, who, represented by optimus-rein, selected Dylan Guenther. Dudestar's pick for LA was Brandt Clarke. Nucker101's selected Mason McTavish for Vancoiuver while Hockeygm's pick for San Jose was Cole Sillinger and Theo Fox's pick for Chicago is below and ShallowLarynx is now on the clock for Calgary. Below is the voting poll, please weigh in with your view
First, some logistical information just for this blog: Thanks to all who have agreed to participate. Almost all teams are spoken for, meaning we have close to a full complement of General Managers, but need a few more. As a reminder, when you have your pick, rationale for the selection, who else you considered and if you weighed a trade, please send that to me via email to
[email protected]. As said previously, for those who agree to participate, please make sure I have your real name to go with your Hockey Buzz ID.
The draft is July 23 and we will start the draft July 8 in the morning. That will give us 15 days or so to complete the draft, even factoring in the Sabbath. For weekdays and Sunday, I will post a pick in the am, theen a second in the pm with voting in between, for around the first 20 picks. The last 11, we will run three per day so we get all 31 picks by or on July 23.
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: each morning and evening (for now, two picks per day, but we will go to three when we get to latter third of the mock draft, so that we complete on time) the team’s selector will email me at [email protected] their pick and their rationale for that selection. If making a trade, the same applies, and all the selectors have been listed below along with their screen name if from this site or their twitter handle if external to help facilitate making trades. I will post that pick and rationale on the site and create a voting poll. For now, I was thinking solely just a yes or no vote for the poll, but if people want me to list other options for the selection at that pick number in cases of a no vote, I am happy to do so, to help make it more robust.
With the 11th Overall Pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks, represented by Theo Fox, Blackhawks blogger from site, select Chaz Lucius, C, US-NTDP
Rationale for the selection with scouting report along with alternatives considered (both players and trades):
The Blackhawks need more top 6 forwards and top pair defenseman in the system. Mason McTavish and Cole Sillinger were considered but have since been selected by the Canucks and Sharks, respectively, in this mock draft.
The top defensemen in the draft are likely to be gone in the top 10 and already are in this mock draft: Owen Power, Luke Hughes, Simon Edvinsson, and Brandt Clarke. Carson Lambos or Sean Behrens would be a good option but more so in the latter part of the 1st round.
Chaz Lucius fits the bill as the best player available at this spot as one of the best shooters and scorers in the draft class. He can also set up teammates, provide relentless pursuit of the puck, and extend offensive zone time while also not hurting the team defensively.
Potential:
Top 6 forward, likely a winger at the NHL level but potential to play center if his skating improves.
Stylistic Comparable:
Steven Stamkos and/or Kyle Connor
Scouting Report:
(Sources include Smaht Scouting, The Draft Analyst, Dobber Prospects, Elite Prospects, The Hockey News, The Hockey Writers, Lines.com, Scouching YouTube Channel, and NHL Central Scouting)
Chaz Lucius is a maven with the puck especially in his shot selection and strength on his shots. He's reminiscent of Dominik Kubalik in having a knack for finding soft areas and getting behind defenders for scoring chances while able to wire the puck any which way.
A competitor and a difference maker up and down the ice, Lucius uses his vision and hockey sense to fuel his playmaking ability so he's not a one-trick pony. Defensively, he's okay. He may not be PK material but he's not a slacker either at even strength.
While his skating could be better, especially adding another gear, Lucius is adept at evading defenders to beat them on the rush. Either way, though, he may end up moving to the wing in the NHL. Skating aside, Lucius is a puck magnet like Brandon Hagel.
At least thus far in his young career, Lucius' wizardry is with shooting but not necessarily other parts of his game where he's more textbook in some areas and pedestrian in others. He's not horrible by any means but not electrifying in everything he does.
Trades Considered:
None.
Others Considered:
Mason McTavish: Already drafted by the Canucks. Stylistic comparable is Gabriel Landeskog.
Cole Sillinger: Already drafted by the Sharks. Stylistic comparable is Jamie Benn.
Fyodor Svechkov: Possibly the most well-rounded player and dependable in all zones out of Lucius, McTavish, and Sillinger but he could be more of a middle 6 forward than top 6 unless he leverages his offensive talents to be more than just a support player.
Nikita Chibrikov: Similar to Svechnikov in being a well-rounded player with a high compete level to be effective across all 200 feet but may also top out as a middle 6 forward unless he can learn to assert himself for a full 60 minutes.
Jesper Wallstedt and Sebastian Cossa: Taking either at 11th is tempting but drafting goalies so high is also a fiery debate amongst fans who argue a #1 goalie can be found in later rounds so "wasting" a top pick on one isn't advisable. The Blackhawks drafted Drew Commesso in the 2nd round last year and could seek to take a chance on either Tristan Lennox or Benjamin Gaudreau next week in a mid-round.
2021 NHL DRAFT ORDER
1. Buffalo Sabres - Hank Bailing, Owen Power, D, Michigan (73%, 267 votes)
2. Seattle Kraken - Sean Maloughney, Matthew Beniers, C, Michigan (85%, 144 votes)
3. Anaheim Ducks - climbdenali12, Ryan Armstrong, Kent Johnson, C, Michigan (20%, 192 votes)
4. New Jersey Devils - Zabber, Luke Hughes, D, USDP (U-18) (81%, 239 votes)
5. Columbus Blue Jackets, slimTJ, TJ Reilly, Simon Edvinsson, D, Frolunda (49% of 140 votes)
6. Detroit Red Wings - fed91tstammer, William Eklund, LW, Djurgardens (SHL) (72%, 162 votes)
7. San Jose Sharks - hockeygm, pick traded to Ottawa who selects Dylan Guenther, RW, Edmonton (WHL) (83%, 82 votes)
8. Los Angeles Kings - dudestar, Nicholas Plazio, Brandt Clarke, RHD, HC Nove Zamhy (87%, 130 votes)
9. Vancouver Canucks - Nucker101, Mason McTavish, C, Peterborough (89%, 168 votes)
10. San Jose from Ottawa- hockeygm, Cole Sillinger, C, Sioux Falls (59%, 66 votes)
11. Chicago Blackhawks - Theo Fox, Blackhawks blogger from site, Chaz Lucius, C, US-NTDP
12. Calgary Flames - ShallowLarynx, Wednesday, July 14 am
13. Philadelphia Flyers - Flyersfan328, Phil Brunner, Wednesday, July 14 pm
14. Dallas Stars - NYRangers1124, Thursday, July 15, am
15. New York Rangers - Jan Levine, Thursday, July 15 pm
16. St. Louis Blues - Tommycasino, Tom Dueck, Friday, July 16 am
17. Winnipeg Jets - Ross77, Darren Ross, Friday, July 16 pm
18. Nashville Predators - Russ Cohen, Saturday, July 17 pm
19. Edmonton Oilers - maximumbone, Silas Bengtsson Sunday July 18 am
20. Boston Bruins - Anthony Travalgia, Bruins blogger on site, Sunday, July 18 afternoon
21. Minnesota Wild - jryan88 - Sunday, July 18 pm
22. Detroit Red Wings (from Washington Capitals) - fed91tstammer, Monday, July 19 am
23. Florida Panthers - jimbo, Jimmy Reilly - Monday, July 19, afternoon
24. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Toronto Maple Leafs) - slimTJ, TJ Reilly, Monday, July 19, pm
25. Minnesota Wild (from Pittsburgh Penguins) - jryan88, Tuesday, July 20, am
26. Carolina Hurricanes - Bingo, Chris Cote, Tuesday, July 20, afternoon
27. Colorado Avalanche - TommyGTrain, Tuesday, July 20, pm
28. New Jersey Devils (from New York Islanders) - Zabber, Wednesday, July 21, am
29. Las Vegas Golden Knights - Burnt_Juice, Clay Arseniuk, Wednesday, July 21, afternoon
30. Montreal Canadiens - Karine Hains, Montreal blogger on site, Wednesday, July 21, pm
31. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Tampa Bay Lightning) - slimTJ, TJ Reilly, Thursday, July 22, am
Looking forward to running this again. We had a ton of fun the last few seasons. That should be the same again this year with New York having the 15th pick in the first round.
Minnesota bought out Ryan Suter and Zach Parise today. Those moves allowed the Wild to free up two additional retention spots for the expansion draft while also clearing $10.3 million in cap space this year. On the downside - and it's a major one - Minnesota has $12.7 mil dead cap space in 2022-23 and $14.74 mil dead cap space in both 2023-24 and 2024-25.
The space for this year will assist the Wild in inking Kirill Kaprizov, Jordan Greenway and Kevin Fiala to long-term contracts. But, Minnesota will feel the pain of the dead cap space beginning next season. For the expansion draft, the team can now protect Matt Dumba, who was at risk of being exposed and might have been a target of the Rangers, if his cap hit was less, and maybe someone like Ryan Hartman. In addition, today, Erik Johnson has waived his no-movement clause, which has an impact on the Blueshirts.
Parise could very well end up with the Isles, as he was rumored to be heading there last year at the deadline. Suter will have his pick of suitors. Tampa Bay comes to mind if he wants to win a Cup, since he might take a short-term deal with a low cap hit and bonuses, or maybe even none, for that chance. Colorado, Vegas and the Islanders, especially if he wants to sign in a place where his cohort in long-term deals, signs.
Suter to the Rangers would provide the team a veteran presence, who while not as physical as before, still can bring the lumber from the back line. He would lengthen the left side of the defense as a second or third pair blueliner. Suter's advanced metrics are solid, better overall than that of Duncan Keith, who just went to Edmonton, and possibly even more important, would come at a cost contained price. The downside is he would take time away from the kids, and given his experience and pedigree, could result in K'Andre Miller sliding to the third pair.
Jake McCabe is also a free agent that would be a good add. His metrics are even better than Suter and is even more of a physical presence, though less of one on the offensive side of the ice. But because he is nearly a decade younger, McCabe will likely cost a lot more in free agency, even coming off a torn ACL and MCL, which might take him out of the team's price point plus he still could re-sign in Buffalo.
For Colorado, Johnson can now be exposed in the expansion draft. Originally, with Cale Makar, Sam Girard, Ryan Graves, Devon Toews and Johnson, one of the four was likely to need to go as Colorado was to go with a 7F/3D protection strategy, Now, with Johnson waiving his NMC, he now can be exposed, dashing our hopes for Graves back in New York. Colorado will likely go with protecting eight skaters, instead of the 7F/3D option, meaning they will in all likelihood lose a solid forward, but their big three on defense remain intact.
New York will now need to look elsewhere to obtain a better blueliner to retain other than Libor Hajek. Maybe Winnipeg or Toronto or Washington or even Carolina. GM Chris Drury has a few days to make a deal for a better third defenseman retention and the clock is ticking.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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