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 and Edmonton drafted Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Starting the next 10 pick, the Islanders picked Joseph Veleno and Ty Smith, Dallas grabbed Vitali Kravtsov, Philadelphia selected Joel Farabee, Florida took Grigori Denisenko, Colorado added Rasmus Kupari, New Jersey added K'Andre Miller, Columbus added Bode Wilde, Philadelphia picked Jonatan Berggen and Los Angeles selected Dominic Bokk. San Jose started the last 11 picks by picking Martin Kaut.
The consensus was that Berggen was the right pick, but only 54% of the approximately 170 votes agreed with the selection. For Bokk, 79% of the 67 votes agreed with the pick while for Kaut, 72% of the 50 votes agreed with the pick.
As noted in my blog this morning, the plan is to finish by Thursday morning, allowing almost all day Thursday for rumors etc. leading into the draft Friday. Picks 22-23, Ottawa and Anaheim are posted below. Minnesota and Toronto, picks 24-25 will be up around noon Tuesday with the Rangers and Blackhawks selections, 26-27 posted tomorrow night. Wednesday will bring picks 28-29 around noon or so and 30-31 late that evening, allowing for a selection or two on Thursday morning if some other news breaks that requires a change in schedule.
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 22nd overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, the Ottawa Senators, represented by nyrangers9479, select Serron Noel, right wing, Oshawa (OHL)
Rationale for the selection:
At 6'5, 210 lbs not many in this year's draft class, or the NHL for that matter can match his size. Still only 17 for almost another 2 months Noel has plenty of time to improve and has shown the dedication by taking power skating classes starting last summer to improve his skating. As he fills out his frame and becomes less awkward on his skates he could become a top power foward in this league. He's great around the net but needs to shoot more but in a few years when he puts it all together he will be very difficult to stop in front of the net. Any team could use his combination of size, strength and skill making him an easy choice at #22..
With the 23rd overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, the Anaheim Ducks, represented by climbdenali12, select Barrett Hayton, center, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
Rationale for the selection:
Anaheim is taking a Best Player available approach to the #23 pick in selecting Barrett Hayton. The Ducks possess quality depth at defense even after the lose of Shea Theodore to expansion but there is always the thought to build on your strengths and trade from it. Players like McIssac, Samuelsson, and Sandin fit this thought of and were likely to be around at the 23rd pick.
Another thought for Anaheim was the continued decline in play of winger Corey Perry. With the likes of Troy Terry and Sam Steel vying for spots possibly in the top 6 this upcoming season, the lack of production from Perry might be offset by the production of these younger players. With that said, the expectation is for Perry's production to continue to decline and adding another versatile forward to that mix is the direction we decided to go.
Hayton, while not the fastest of skaters, possesses high end skating abilities and a hockey IQ that is NHL ready. He has good size and is very tough to knock off the puck. Having just turned 18, the Ducks expect Hayton to return to Juniors next year and then possibly contend for a spot as a 19 year old on the 2019 opening night roster
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 (via st Louis)- Joel Farabee (jmatchett383 will also pick 19th)
Florida - Grigori Denisenko
Non-lottery teams :
Colorado - Rasmus Kupari
New Jersey - K'Andre Miller
Columbus - Bode Wilde
Philadelphia - Jonatan Berggen
Los Angeles - Dominic Bokk
San Jose- Martin Kaut
Ottawa (via Pittsburgh) - Serron Noel
Anaheim - Barrett Hayton
Minnesota - Dan Wallace (Wild blogger on site)
Toronto - Matt1337
Rangers (via Boston) - tomburton
Chicago (via Nashvile) - Panarin27
Rangers (via Tampa Bay) - tomburton
St. Louis (via Wnnipeg) - Isles (Vukota)
Detroit (via Las Vegas) - Pete V
Washington - Russ Cohen (@sportsology)
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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