A mock draft is a simulation of the actual NHL Draft. You take on the role of a team's GM and make picks for your team, while AI simulates the 31 other teams making their own selections based on real organizational needs, scouting rankings, and draft logic.
Think of it as a fantasy draft — but instead of picking active NHL players, you're selecting draft-eligible prospects who haven't played their first NHL game yet.
1. Choose your team — Pick any of the 32 NHL franchises. Each team has different draft picks, positional needs, and pipeline depth.
2. Set your options — Choose your difficulty (Easy, Normal, or Nightmare), enable trades, and optionally run the lottery first to set a realistic draft order.
3. Draft! — When your pick comes up, you'll see a ranked list of available prospects. Pick BPA, fill a need, or propose a trade.
4. Get graded — After each round, you'll receive a real-time grade based on the value and fit of your selections.
GM Mode: Draft as your chosen team, making decisions for 1–7 rounds depending on your plan.
Full Control Mode: Control every pick for all 32 teams.
Trades: Propose and negotiate trades with AI teams. Each team has real organizational logic — they'll counter, accept, or reject based on their needs.
Ask JENI (PRO): Get instant AI analysis on any pick. "Should I take the centre at #12 or trade down?" JENI knows the draft.
Draft Grades: Every selection is evaluated in real time. After the draft, get a full report card with your best steal, biggest reach, and needs filled.
- Start on Normal difficulty — AI teams draft intelligently but won't intentionally block your targets.
- Always check your team needs before picking — they show up clearly in your war room.
- Don't overthink the first pick. Take the best player available and see where the board falls.
- The draft board updates in real time as picks are made — watch for your targets sliding.