The first mock Hockey Buzz mock draft driven by the readers and a few special guests is now set. Thanks to all who have agreed to participate. This approach was driven by what I wrote Monday, “I thought a mock draft with some of the commenters taking a team and making a pick. But not only making a pick but providing the rationale for the pick. If that selector wants to propose a trade as opposed to making a pick, then they have that right. But the key has to be what works for that team and not just the Rangers.”
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 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 will work: 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 will email me at
[email protected] their pick and their rationale for that selection. 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 will post that pick and rationale on the site and create a voting poll. For now, was thinking solely 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.
Let me say thanks again to all who volunteered. I hope you all will find this fun and interesting. Now without further ado, off to the mock draft:
Buffalo selects Rasmus Dahlin, who we all believe is a lock to go first overall.
Up for the second pick in the draft are the Carolina Hurricanes and selecting for the Canes will be Bingo, who is on the clock
Lottery teams:
Buffalo selects Rasmus Dahlin
Carolina - Bingo
Montréal - Andrew Sarrazin (writer for the Canadiens at The Fourth Period and co-founder of SIT Analytics) - @andrew_tfp
Ottawa - nyrangers9479 (picks 4 and 22)
Arizona -pet.m.d
Detroit- Pete V (picks 6 and either 30 or 31)
Vancouver - Leftcoaster
Chicago - Panarin27 (picks 8 and 27)
Rangers - Tom Burton (picks 9, 26 and 28)
Edmonton - Slimtj100
Islanders (2x) -Chiefs
Dallas - tumbleweed
Philadelphia- jmatchett383 (picks 14 and 19)
Florida - jimbo
Non-lottery teams:
Colorado - Ranger71
New Jersey - Todd Cordell (Devils blogger on site)
Columbus - Paul Berthelot (Jackets blogger on the site)
Los Angeles - Steve Kournianos (@thedraftanalyst)
San Jose- Sharksfan68
Toronto - Matt1337
Anaheim - Climbdenali12
Minnesota - Dan Wallace (Wild blogger on site)
St. Louis - Isles (Vukota)
Washington - Russ Cohen (@sportsology)
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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