The second annual Hockey Buzz Mock Draft is now underway, Jack Hughes went first to New Jersey and I am on the board with the Rangers' pick. Chicago is next up and that pick will be posted tomorrow AM along with New York's selection, which should need little rationale and not even require a poll vote.
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 1st Overall Pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, the New Jersey Devils, represented by redmonsters, Kevin Barrett, select Jack Hughes
Rationale for the selection:
I first read about Jack Hughes two years ago, in the Hockey News Draft Preview. You know the one, Nico is on the cover. After reading the blurb on Jack, I thought wow, he would be a blessing to the Devils. Along comes the 2018-2019 season andHughes starts off miles ahead in draft predictions for September. But inch by inch, Kakko rises. Then at the U18, Hughes sets records. Following at the World Championships, Kakko confirms that he is a future star in this league. Both demonstrated that they are a cut above the rest. Differences between the two, speed vs. size. Hughes, who at 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds is four inches shorter and 20 pounds lighter than Kakko, a noticeable difference. I still do not see the size differential as a determining factor. Speed in this league can be a big advantage, as long as you have the skill to use it, and Hughes does. So Hughes it is.
There is no loser here. It comes down to team construction and I will take the center over the winger every time. The winner here is the hockey fans in the NJ/NY area.
In addition, we have a trade to announce, we have a trade to announce, between the Panthers and Kings:
Florida trades #13 overall to the Kings for #22 overall, #33 overall, #64 overall and Tyler Toffoli
Rationale for the selection:
Rationale on Toffoli for Kings was for them to get rid of his cap hit, which is one more year at $4.6 mil. Los Angeles gave up extra pick for that purpose while Florida hopes their targeted player falls to them at 22
I have the second pick of the draft and that will be posted tomorrow AM and p for the third pick in the draft will be Chicago and selecting for the Blackhawks will be Kevin Braeunle, who is basically on the clock
2019 NHL DRAFT FIRST-ROUND ORDER and GMs to Date
1. New Jersey Devils - redmonsters, Kevin Barrett - Jack Hughes
2. New York Rangers - Jan Levine
3. Chicago Blackhawks - kevin6, Kevin Braeunle
4. Colorado Avalanche (from Ottawa Senators) - optimus-reim, Luke Herrington
5. Los Angeles Kings - slimtj, TJ Reilly
6. Detroit Red Wings - Feds91Stammer
7. Buffalo Sabres - lonsabres, Paul Schott
8. Edmonton Oilers - Reveen, Curtis Lavoie
9. Anaheim Ducks - climbdenali12, Ryan Armstrong
10. Vancouver Canucks - Carol Schram, Canucks blogger on the site
11. Philadelphia Flyers - Flyerfan328, Philip Brunner and Streit2ThePoint, Ryan Snyder
12. Minnesota Wild - MaximumBone, Silas Bengtsson (or Colorado or Edmonton)
13. Florida Panthers - jimbo, Jimmy Reilly
14. Arizona Coyotes - jediman, Brendan Smith, and if he is unsable to draft, then phantom19, Norm Braeunle
15. Montreal Canadiens - Karine Hains, Canadiens blogger on the website
16. Colorado Avalanche - optimus-reim, Luke Herrington
17. Vegas Golden Knights - Jeff Paul, Vegas blogger for Hockey Buzz
18. Dallas Stars - Panarin27, Mark Choate
19. Ottawa Senators (from Columbus Blue Jackets) - Trevor Shackles, Ottawa blogger on the site
20. New York Rangers (from Winnipeg Jets) - Jan Levine
21. Pittsburgh Penguins - Datools55, Julien Michel
22. Los Angeles Kings (from Toronto Maple Leafs) - slimtj, TJ Reilly
23. New York Islanders - eichiefs9
24. Nashville Predators - Russ Cohen, sportsology
25. Washington Capitals - nyrangers9479
26. Calgary Flames - beandip, Andrew Horenbein
27. Tampa Bay Lightning - Panarin27, Mark Choate
28. Carolina Hurricanes - Bingo, Chris Cote
29. Buffalo Sabres [or Anaheim Ducks] (from San Jose Sharks) - lonsabres, Paul Schott
St. Louis’ pick is owner by Buffalo, pick to be made by lonsabres, Paul Schott
Boston to be covered by Anthony Travalgia, HB Bruins blogger
30. Stanley Cup Final losing team
31. Stanley Cup winner
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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