The Hockey Buzz Mock Draft is now complete. 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, Ottawa selected Serron Noel, Anaheim selected Barrett Hayton, Minnesota grabbed Mattias Samelsson and Toronto traded the pick, Kapanen and Sparks for Hanifin, then selected Ryan Merkely. The Rangers selected Akil Thomas, while Chicago went with Benoit-Olivier Grouix, the Rangersl followed with Nils Lundqvist, St. Louis traded their pick to Calgary who took Rasmus Sandin and Detroit as well as Washington’s picks to close the round are below.
The consensus was that Lundqvist was the right pick, with 65% of the approximately 80 votes agreeing with the selection. On the trade, 45% believe St. Louis got the better of the deal, 29% feel Calgary won the trade and 27% of the 222 votes said it was fair trade. As such, even though the Blues got the majority of the votes, I am leaving the trade and not overturning it. For Sandin, 77% of the 48 votes thought he was the correct choice.
As noted in my blog last night, the plan was to finish today, allowing almost all day Thursday for rumors etc. leading into the draft Friday. With Detroit’s and Washington’s picks below, we have completed the first round., Thanks to all who participated in making the picks, read the blogs and commented as well as voting in each poll. I hope conducting the mock draft in this manner was fun and interesting for all.
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 30th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, the Detroit Red Wings, represented by Fed91stammer and Pete V, select Jesse Ylonen, right wing, Espoo United
Rationale for the selection:
After failing to move up via trade we were hoping a forward like Kravtsov, Bokk, Kaut, Denisenko, Kupari, etc. would make it to 30 but that was not the case. This may seem like a reach to some as many have him going closer to the 40 range. He is a top end skater and his overall game has garnered a stylistic comparison to T.J. Oshie. In the 2017 U18 World Championships he posted a stat line of 7GP 4G 5A 9P which was identical to Andrei Svechnikov's numbers. This past season he put up very respectable numbers in the Mestis which is the 2nd tier Finnish Pro League so he has been playing against men. His father also spent time in the NHL. We like his potential to be a top 6 forward in the future. We would have considered Sandin or Dellandrea if they were there. At 33 and 36, Isac Lundestrom, Jared McIsaac, Jauri Lauko and Hallander (see below) are possible options.
Ylonen is a lightning fast Finnish right-winger who is the type of upside pick that team’s often reach for a bit at the end of the first round. He’s another player that is a great skater, with excellent top end speed and high-end agility. His puck skills are very good, but he’s probably a couple of years away needing to work on his defensive game and general game awareness.
With the 31th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, the Washington Capitals, represented by Russ Cohen @sportsology, select Filip Hallander, Timra, (SWE)
Rationale for the selection:
I wasn’t able to get rationale from Russ, so decided to go with Corey Pronman wrote on Hallander. He said: "Hallander was an important part of a young and dangerous Timra offense, which advanced to the SHL. Almost every time I’ve watched Hallander this season I’ve come away impressed by his skill level and ability to make plays. He’s a coordinated puck handler who can make skilled plays and do so at a pro pace. His combination of skill and IQ allowed him to create chances at the Allsvenskan level consistently. He can make plays to his teammates and finish, as well, but I like him more as a playmaker, as he has great vision. He’s not a great skater, with a bit of an awkward stride, but he has reasonable speed when he gets going. While he’s not incredibly physical, he can win some battles and he’s OK defensively.
Lottery teams :
Buffalo - Rasmus Dahlin
Carolina - Andrei Svechnikov
Montréal – Filip Zadina
Ottawa - Noah Dobson
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 – original trade overturned, select Vitali Kravtsov,
Philadelphia (via st Louis)- Joel Farabee
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 – Mattias Samuelsson
Toronto - traded to Carolina, who selects Ryan Merkley
Rangers (via Boston) - Akil Thomas
Chicago (via Nashvile) - Benoit-Olivier Grouix
Rangers (via Tampa Bay) - Nils Lundqvist
St. Louis (via Wnnipeg) - traded to Calgary, who selects Rasmus Sandin
Detroit (via Las Vegas) - Jesse Ylonen
Washington – Filip Hallander
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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