The Hockey Buzz Mock Draft rolls on. 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 and Anaheim selected Barret Hayton.
The consensus was that Noel was the right pick, with 66% of the approximately 115 votes agreed with the selection. For Hayton, 88% of the 72 votes agreed with the pick.
As noted in my blog last night, the plan is to finish by Thursday morning, allowing almost all day Thursday for rumors etc. leading into the draft Friday. Picks 22-23, Ottawa and Anaheim were posted last night. Minnesota and Toronto, picks 24-25 are posted below with the Rangers and Blackhawks selections, 26-27 posted late tonight, and New York and Chicago are on the clock. Wednesday will bring picks 28-29 (Rangers and Blues) around noon or so and 30-31 (Detroit and Washington) late that evening, allowing for a selection or two on Thursday morning if some other news breaks that requires a change in schedule.
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 24th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, the Ottawa Senators, represented by Dan Wallace, Wild Blogger on the site, select Mattias Samuelsson, defenseman, USNTDP
Rationale for the selection:
The Wild have several needs to build organizational depth. Yes they need help down the middle, but the cupboard is pretty bare when it comes to defense prospects as well.
New Wild GM, Paul Fenton comes from Nashville where the success of that organization stemmed around building through the draft. More importantly Nashville has always had a stable of defense prospects funneling through the system.
Minnesota has lacked size and toughness on the blueline for many years and Samuelsson would bring both of those elements in a big way.
Samuelsson also brings the hockey bloodlines following in the footsteps of his father Kjell Samuelsson, the two time Stanley Cup winner and veteran of over 800 NHL games.
The younger Samuelsson has some offensive upside, but his defense is what is the defining element of his game.
According to scouting reports Samuelsson uses his size very well. He does not go out of his way to make hits and plays a responsible game in his own zone. He controls his gaps well and does not over handle the puck.
Opponents know when Samuelsson is on the ice do to the physical nature of his game, and as he is very difficult to play against. This is something the Wild have been missing seemingly forever.
Projection: Top 3 NHL defenseman
We have a trade to announce, we have a trade to announce (OHL)
Toronto Maple Leafs, represented by matt1337, acquire:
Noah Hanifin
Rights to Derek Ryan
Carolina Hurricanes, represented by Bingo, acquire:
Kasperi Kapanen
25th Overall Pick
Garret Sparks
Rationale for the trade form Carolina side:
The Carolina Hurricanes have problems, no doubt about that.
They have a glut of young defensemen, but are lacking both up front and in net. This addresses both of those issues, while not depleting them beyond repair on the back end.
Noah Hanifin is a big piece to lose, but with Jaccob Slavin, Haydn Fleury and Jake Bean all on the left side, it's a hit they can afford to take.
On the flip side, they're acquiring yet another strong young Finnish forward in Kasperi Kapanen. A guy with speed to burn who should ready to fit into a middle 6 role alongside Jordan Staal and Justin Williams (It doesn't hurt being the son of a former Canes star, either.)
They're also acquiring Garret Sparks, who has been being groomed for an NHL goaltending position for a while now. He's absolutely a question mark, but if he can translate his very solid AHL numbers into even average NHL level goaltending, he'll be far better than what the Hurricanes have been living with for a while.
Lastly they get the 25th Overall pick, giving them an opportunity to potentially add another defensive prospect and, at least in theory, mitigate at least some of the pain of losing Hanifin.
Rationale for the trade from Toronto side
The reason for the trade, is mostly to allow for the opportunity to deal Jake Gardiner. With his point totals increasing and his pending UFA status, it is best to sell high while Toronto can. Toronto missed out on this opportunity last season to do this with JVR, Bozak, and Komarov. They don't make the same mistake twice (well, at least while I am in charge).
Noah is a left defense, but Gardiner can be swapped for a top 4 right defense and extra pieces. It opens up the opportunity for either Noah, Trevor, or Nikita to QB the 2nd PP unit. Also, Babock had pushed for the leafs to draft Noah over Mitch, so this appeases the coach as well.
Derek Ryan is exactly what the leafs need, a depth center. With Tyler leaving, Derek can fill in on the 3rd or 4th line, leaving the final spot to someone on the Marlies (or Tavares if the leafs somehow sign him). Derek played on the PP and PK for Carolina, with makes him a useful asset for Babcock. Acquiring his rights show him they are interested in him and value him as a player.
It sucks to lose Kasperi Kapanen. He is someone I view highly in the leafs organization, and often gets overlooked because he isn't one of the big 3. Toronto has a lot of depth on the wing, and at best, he would still be playing 3rd line here. He is at least a top 6 forward.
Garrett Sparks is coming off a career year with the Marlies, and is 1 win away from a Calder Cup. Unfortunately, I still don't think he is much of a difference maker at the NHL level. I would rather run with Andersen and Pickard, than Andersen and Sparks. This also opens up the logjam at goalie for Toronto, as they would have 5 goalies signed getting into preseason
With the 25th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, the Carolina Hurricanes, represented by Bingo, select Ryan Merkley, defenseman, Guelph (OHL)
Rationale for the selection:
Merkley is possibly the most offensively dynamic defenseman in this draft (outside of Dahlin, of course) and while he comes with a fair number of warts to his game, his skill level is simply too tantalizing to pass up. His potential for high-level offense makes giving up on Noah Hanifin all the more easier, especially given that he's a right-shot, while the up-and-coming D men the Canes already have in Haydn Fleury and Jake Bean both shoot left.
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) - tomburton
Chicago (via Nashvile) - Panarin27
Rangers (via Tampa Bay) - tomburton
St. Louis (via Wnnipeg) - Isles (Vukota)
Detroit (via Las Vegas) - Pete V
Washington - Russ Cohen (@sportsology)
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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