The third mock Hockey Buzz mock draft driven by the readers and a few special guests kicked off two weeks ago. The first five selections were Alexis Lafreniere, Quinton Byfield, Tim Sturzle, Marco Rossi and Cole Perfetti. Kicking off the next five was Anton Lundell followed by Alexander Holtz, Lucas Raymond, Jaroslav Askarov and Jaime Drysdale. Jake Sanderson was the first pick in the next block of 10 selections followed by Jack Quinn, Dawson Mercer, Seth Jarvis, Ryan O'Rourke, Hendrix Lapierre, Dylan Holloway, Kaiden Guhle, Braden Schneider and Jacob Perreault . Picks 20-31 kicked off with Connor Zary, followed by Brendan Brisson, Justin Barron, JJ Peterka, Jan Mysac, Rodion Amirov, Noel Gunler and Mavrik Bourque. The selections Las Vegas, represented by jrr1285, Dallas, with Russ Cohen picking, are in. Once San Jose's selection, made by barberjw, is received, I will post it but that will be done Sunday night or Monday am. 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. In addition, after each pick in the summary below, I have added in the % that approved the pick in the poll and total number of votes.
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 29th Overall Pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, the Vegas Golden Knights, represented by jrr1285, select Helge Grans, D, Malmo (SHL)
Rationale for the selection with scouting report along with alternatives considered (both players and trades):
With Mavrik Bourque off the table the focus shifted to defense. With Grans you have a player that checks a lot of boxes. Size, solid skating ability, and a right handed shot make this a potentially special player. He has represented Sweden with the national team and even played a few games with the men's team at the age of 16. While playing for the U20 Malmö team this past season he contributed 4 goals and 23 assists in 27 games. He also appeared in 21 additional SHL games the same season and had a line of 1G/2A in 21 games. Hopefully his offensive game can take a step forward outside of the junior/minor level.
Additional rationale aside from taking the perceived BPA include a current and future need for Defensive depth in Las Vegas. Helge Grans will hopefully be able to step in and contribute as contracts expire (Alec Martinez) or losing players to trades and/or injuries. A right handed solid defensive prospect is always a good thing to have in the system.
Noel Gunler and Mavrik Bourque were the other players considered. The remaining centers appeared to be undersized and these three appeared to be the best left on the board without reaching.
No trades were seriously considered, the organization was pleased with the player available at this point in the draft.
With the 30th Overall Pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, the Dallas Stars, represented by Russ Cohen, select Lukas Reichel, LW, Berlin, (DEL)
Rationale for the selection with scouting report along with alternatives considered (both players and trades):
Dallas has had great luck advancing European players quickly. Reichel can come over next season from the DEL and play in Texas and that's a great way for him to adjust to North America. Scouting report: Lukas Reichel – 6-0, 172 – LW – Good one-timer. Good balance while fighting in the scrum around the net. Has the will to score. Excellent eye-hand coordination and terrific acceleration.
2020 NHL DRAFT FIRST-ROUND ORDER AND GMs (plus yes votes/total votes, % of votes that agreed with selection)
1. New York Rangers - Jan Levine - Alexis Lafreniere, LW, Rimouski, OMJHL (349/398, 88%)
2. Los Angeles Kings - Kooleus, Quinton Byfield, C, Sudbury, OHL. (405/566, 76%)
3. Ottawa Senators (via San Jose Sharks) - spatso, Tim Stutzle, C, Mannheim, DEL (310/332. 93%)
4. Detroit Red Wings - feds91stammer, Marco Rossi, C, Ottawa, OHL, (116/235, 52%)
5. Ottawa Senators - spatso, Cole Perfetti, LW, Saginaw, OHL (102/289, 35%)
6. Anaheim Ducks - optimus-reim, Anton Lundell, C, HIFK, LIIGA (62/222, 28%)
7. New Jersey Devils - redmonsters, Alexander Holtz, RW, Djurgarden, SHL (183/333, 55%)
8. Buffalo Sabres - KilkennyDan, Lucas Raymond, RW, Frolunda, SHL, (191/266, 72%)
9. Minnesota Wild - dudestar, Jarsolav Askarov, G, SKA-NEVA, VHL (73/142, 51%)
10. Winnipeg Jets - Ross77, Jamie Drysdale, D, Erie, OHL (278/305, 91%)
11. Nashville Predators - slimtj, Jake Sanderson, D, NTDP-U18, USDP (121/163, 74%)
12. Florida Panthers - jimbo, Jack Quinn, RW, Ottawa, OHL (110/138, 80%)
13. Carolina Hurricanes (via Toronto Maple Leafs) - Bingo, Dawson Mercer, C, Chicoutimi, QMJHL (124/193, 64%)
14. Edmonton Oilers - maximumbone, Seth Jarvis, RW, Portland, WHL, (210/277, 77%)
15. Toronto Maple Leafs (via Pittsburgh Penguins) - Michael Augello, Ryan O'Rourke, D, Sault Ste Marie, OHL (107/423, 25%)
16. Montreal Canadiens - Vivian Lapeirre, Hendrix Lapierre, C, Chicoutimi, QMJHL, (109/239, 45%)
17. Chicago Blackhawks - Theo Fox, Dylan Holloway, C/LW, Wisconsin, NCAA, (179/216, 83%)
18. New Jersey Devils (from Arizona) - redmonsters, Kaiden Guhle, D, Prince Albert, WHL (84/133, 63%)
19. Calgary Flames - deddie, Braden Schneider, D, Brandon WHL (82/109, 75%)
20. New Jersey Devils (from Vancouver via Tampa Bay) - redmonsters, Jacob Perreault, C/RW, Sarnia, WHL (60/137, 44%)
21. Columbus Blue Jackets, Thomas Townsend, Connor Zary, C, Kamloops, (97/118, 82%)
22. New York Rangers (from Carolina) - Jan, Brendan Brisson, C, Chicago USHL (40/82, 49%)
23. Philadelphia Flyers - Flyersfan328, Justin Barron, D, Halifax, QMJHL (67/148, 45%)
24. Colorado Avalanche - climbdenali12, JJ Peterka, LW, EHC München,, DEL (30/66, 43%)
25. Washington Capitals - winerydog, Jan Mysac, C, Hamilton, OHL (17/40, 43%)
26. St. Louis Blues, jediman, Rodion Amirov, LW, UFA, MHL (35/38, 92%)
27. Anaheim Ducks (from Boston) - optimus-reim, Noel Gunler, LW, Lulea, SHL
28. Ottawa Senators (acquired from Islanders in JG Pageau deal) Mavrik Bourque, C, Shawinigan, QMJHL
29. Vegas Golden Knights - JRR1285, Helge Grans, D, Malmo, SHL
30. Dallas - Russ Cohen, sportsology), Lukas Reichel, LW, Berlin, DEL
31. San Jose (acquired from Tampa Bay in Barclay Goodrow deal) barberjw, xxx
New York Rangers Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»