The Hockey Buzz Mock Draft rolls on. Rasmus Dahlin went first to Buffalo, Andrei Svechnikov to Carolina, Filip Zadina to Montreal, Noah Dobson to Ottawa, Oliver Wahlstrom to Arizona, Quinn Hughes to Detroit, Vancouver selected Brady Tkachuk, Chicago picked Adam Boqvist , the Rangers selected Evan Bouchard, Edmonton drafted Jesperi Kotkaniemi while the Islanders picked Joseph Veleno and Ty Smith. The consensus was that Veleno and Smith were the right picks, with Veleno garnering 80% of the 260 votes and Smith 70% of the approximately 185 votes.
The Stars, represented by tumbleweed and Adam French, select Vitali Kravtsov.
Overall Rules and Process :
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 serious 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 is working: each evening (for now, one pick per day, but we will go to two when we get to second half of the mock draft and possibly even before that, so that we complete on time) the team’s selector emails me their pick and rationale for that selection to [email protected]. 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 am posting that pick and rationale on the site and create a voting poll. For now, we are using 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 13th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, the Dallas Stars select Vitali Kravtsov, Chelyabinsk (RUS).
Rationale for the selections:
The best pure Russian League grown prospect since Nikita Kucherov, Kravtsov has fallen under the radar due to a lack of exposure in the international scene. Playing at various times through the Russian system, Kravtsov was a fixture in the professional leagues of Russia. He played 35 games in the KHL putting up comparable numbers to Kuznetsov, the VHL (basically their version of the AHL or Allsvenskan) where he was nearly a PPG and a brief one game in the MHL (Major Junior) where he scored 3 points because he was too good for the league.
Unlike Nichushkin, Guryanov or Rubtsov, Kravtsov has creativity to go with his size and skill. He isn't a one trick pony. He can play either wing with ease, can play on the penalty kill (VHL and MHL) and he has shown that he can pass in close. A weird talent to point out, but one that is important. His passes of 4 feet or less are amazing. He has that vision you can't teach.
Kravtsov had the best playoff performance of any draft eligible player in KHL history. He's clawing through the charts and is already the 3rd ranked European player by Central Scouting after being 60th two months ago. The long forgotten prospect has earned the respect of the hockey world through results, not promises or potential. He's a big game player and the most intriguing player in the draft.
If any team is going to make the gamble, it's a Jim Nill lead team
Up for the 14th pick in the draft are the Flyers and selecting for Philly will be jmatchett383, who is on the clock (Pick posted later today)
Lottery teams :
Buffalo - Rasmus Dahlin
Carolina - Andrei Svechnikov
Montréal – Filip Zadina
Ottawa - Noah Dobson (nyrangers9479 will be up again later with pick 22)
Arizona - Oliver Wahlstrom
Detroit - Quinn Hughes (Pete will also pick 30th)
Vancouver - Brady Tkachuk
Chicago - Adam Boqvist (Panarin27 will also pick 27th)
Rangers - Evan Bouchard (Tom Burton will also pick 26th and 28th)
Edmonton – trade overturned, Oilers pick Jesperi Kotkaniemi
Islanders (2x) – Joseph Veleno and Ty Smith
Dallas – tumbleweed, original trade overturned, select Vitali Kravtsov,
Philadelphia- jmatchett383 (picks 14 and 19)
Florida - jimbo
Non-lottery teams :
Colorado - Ranger71
New Jersey - Todd Cordell (Devils blogger on site)
Columbus - Paul Berthelot (Jackets blogger on the site)
Los Angeles - Steve Kournianos (@thedraftanalyst)
San Jose- Sharksfan68
Toronto - Matt1337
Anaheim - Climbdenali12
Minnesota - Dan Wallace (Wild blogger on site)
St. Louis - Isles (Vukota)
Washington - Russ Cohen (@sportsology)
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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