The third mock Hockey Buzz mock draft driven by the readers and a few special guests kicked off Monday. The first five were Alexis Lafreniere, Quinton Byfield, Tim Sturzle, Marco Rossi and Cole Perfetti. Kicking off the next five was Anton Lundell followed by Alexander Holtz and Lucas Raymond. The selection by Minnesota, with dudestar picking, is below with Winnipeg, represented by Ross77 on the clock and Nashville, represented by slimtj, on deck. As a reminder, we will have a break after the Jets pick is posted with the next selection posted Monday am. Below is the voting poll, 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.
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 9th Overall Pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, the Minnesota Wild, represented by dudestar, select Jarsolav Askarov, G, SKA-NEVA (VHL)
Rationale for the selection with scouting report along with alternatives considered (both players and trades):
Over the past 3 years Devan Dubnyk has regressed, the Minnesota Wild need to start preparing for the future. Yaroslav Askarov is the future in net for the Wild. He has great size and skill. He is great at handling the puck and acts as a 3rd defenseman. His rebound control is very good for such a young goalie. His lateral movement and tracking of the puck give him the chance to make beautiful saves.
I remember watching in 2012 when the Wild took Matt Dumba. 7th OA, that same year the
Lightning took Andrei Vasilevskiy 19 OA. Fast forward 8 years and now Dumba looks to be on his way out the door and Vasilevskiy is a Vezina winning, franchise goalie with the Lightning. Obviously, I am not implying Askarov finds the same success, but looking at the success he’s already had (winning gold with Russia at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and posting a 12-3-3 record in the VHL with a .920 save percentage and letting in only 2.45 GAA per game [He was the youngest goalie ever to play in more than nine games in the VHL]) and all the hype surrounding him being talked about like Carey Price, He is a can’t
miss prospect..
Of course it could be 4 to 5 years before Askarov is ready. Hunter Jones and Kaapo Kahkonen can hold down the fort till he is ready. Once he is ready they can be traded away for picks or used in a package deal to get help at a position of need down the road. I like the fact that Askarov will not have to be rushed into playing for the Wild. Give him all the time he needs to develop the right way. Askarov is a pick for the distant future. He won’t help the team now or the near future. With the trading of Staal, our #1 center, the Wild are looking at top 10, maybe top 5, picks in the near future. These next two drafts after 2020 could be exciting for the Wild.
Other Options Considered
Jamie Drysdale- We are so loaded at RHD defensemen that we are going to trade one away (Dumba). Picking one now does not interest me with Askarov on the board. And Brandt Clarke (Barrie Colts) in the draft next year.
Seth Jarvis- 42 goals in 54 games and he lives in the Danger Zone (nods to Loggins). I wanted to take Jarvis. I will be rooting for him. But, between Askarov on the board now and the fact that the Wild could be bottoming out the next 2 years. Meaning we could potentially get Brandt Clarke and Shane Wright over the next 2 drafts, if the hockey gods look upon us favorably in the lottery. Then I am in no hurry to get better. (A fan can dream)
The trade with the Ducks:
To Anaheim
Dumba
9th overall
2021 1st (top 10 protected, whichever pick ends up lower - between Penguins and Wild,
is the pick that Anaheim gets)
To Minnesota
6th overall66th overall
Lundestrom
Getzlaf (50% retained)
With the 6th pick I was going to take Raymond, a player in my top 5. Giving up the
Pens pick is no big deal it will be 24+. Dumba’s contract comes off the book giving us
flexibility in the salary cap. I view Lundestrom as a future middle-six center (probably 3 rd
line). Getzlaf has just one year left and then his contract is off the books. I like being aggressive in the draft. If a top 5 guy falls out of the top 5 I would be looking to trade up
to get him.
Scouting reports
“Askarov’s superior flexibility, athleticism, and quickness (and proper stick positioning) are all on display during most possessions inside his own end. Viewing him as being “jittery” or having “happy feet” without understanding Askarov’s style and how it clearly works for him sets critics up for failure — Askarov is incredibly intelligent and possesses technical superiority in multiple areas that validate a style that not only works best for him but also has given him a proven track record in both league and tournament play.” Steve Kournianos
“Askarov is prepped and ready to be the first netminder selected in the top-10 since
Carey Price went fifth overall 15 years ago. The 6’3 Russian was very good in the VHL –
Russia’s second-tier pro league, going 12-3-3 while posting a .920 save percentage. Some will point out that the league average in the V is around .920 and I would counter by saying we NEVER see 17-year-old goaltenders suit up in that league, so beat it. Askarov presents the entire buffet of attributes needed to be a serious starter in the NHL. His wait time should likely be a smidge less than normal, assuming he lands in a spot that needs help in the crease. We don’t often recommend placing too much value in the crease position when it comes to youngsters, but this kid will challenge that notion.” Cam Robinson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8uo3nKFUGc
2020 NHL DRAFT FIRST-ROUND ORDER AND GMs
1. New York Rangers - Jan Levine - Alexis Lafreniere, LW, Rimouski, OMJHL
2. Los Angeles Kings - Kooleus, Quinton Byfield, C, Sudbury, OHL
3. Ottawa Senators (via San Jose Sharks) - spatso, Tim Stutzle, C, Mannheim, DEL
4. Detroit Red Wings - feds91stammer, Marco Rossi, C, Ottawa, OHL
5. Ottawa Senators - spatso, Cole Perfetti, LW, Saginaw, OHL
6. Anaheim Ducks - optimus-reim, Luke Herrington, Anton Lundell, C, HIFK, LIIGA
7. New Jersey Devils - redmonsters, Kevin Barrett, Alexander Holtz, RW, Djurgarden, SHL
8. Buffalo Sabres - KilkennyDan, Dan Sovocol, Lucas Raymond, RW, Frolunda, SHL
9. Minnesota Wild - dudestar, Nicholas Plazio, Jarsolav Askarov, G, SKA-NEVA, VHL
10. Winnipeg Jets - Ross77, Darren Ross, Friday, Sept. 18 around 6pm, then a break
11. Nashville Predators - c, TJ Reilly, Monday, Sept. 21 am
12. Florida Panthers - jimbo, Jimmy Reilly, Monday, Sept. 21 pm
13. Carolina Hurricanes (via Toronto Maple Leafs) - Bingo, Chris Cote, Tuesday, Sept. 22 am
14. Edmonton Oilers - maximumbone, Silas Bengtsson, Tuesday, Sept. 22 pm
15. Toronto Maple Leafs (via Pittsburgh Penguins) - Michael Augello, Leafs blogger on site, Wednesday, Sept. 23 am
16. Montreal Canadiens - Vivian Lapeirre, bi-lingual, Wednesday, Sept. 23 pm
17. Chicago Blackhawks - Theo Fox, Chicago blogger on site, Thursday, Sept. 24 am
18. New Jersey Devils (from Arizona) - redmonsters, Kevin Barrett, Thursday, Sept. 24 pm
19. Calgary Flames - deddie, Dan Ethier, Friday, Sept. 25 am
20. New Jersey Devils (from Vancouver via Tampa Bay) - redmonsters, Kevin Barrett, Friday, Sept 25 pm
21. Columbus Blue Jackets, Thomas Townsend, Columbus blogger on site, Sunday, Sept. 27 am
22. New York Rangers (from Carolina) - Jan, Tuesday Sept. 29 am
23. Philadelphia Flyers - Flyersfan328, Phil Brunner, Tuesday Sept. 29 pm
24. Colorado Avalanche - climbdenali12, Ryan Armstrong, Wednesday, Sept. 30 am
25. Washington Capitals - winerydog, Wednesday, Sept. 30 pm
26. St. Louis Blues, jediman, Brendan Smith, Thursday, Oct. 1 in am
27. Anaheim Ducks (from Boston) - optimus-reim, Luke Herrington, Thursday, Oct. 1 in pm
28-31. Pick order TBD - picks will be Friday, Oct. 2 in am, Friday, Oct 2 around 5 pm, - Monday Oct 5 in am and Monday, Oct 5 inpm
Dallas (Russ Cohen, sportsology)
Vegas (JRR1285, Josh Ruiz)
Ottawa (acquired from New York Islanders in JG Pageau deal - spatso)
San Jose (acquired from Tampa Bay in Barclay Goodrow deal (Jeremy Barber, user id: barberjw, email: barbjw26@gmail) -
Looking forward to running this again. We had a ton of fun last season. That should be the same again this year with New York having the first and 22nd picks in the first round.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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