And you ignored my question if Mark Hunter ran Peterborough would he have had the same success, it goes both ways. The inequity is there for all to see with the likes of Harrington and Domi dictating where they go, Scheifele a Saginaw draft pick not reporting and being dealt to Barrie and therefore reporting. I don't see the upside in spending a lot of money in scouting when kids are going to dictate where they go. I would rather spend my time talking to agents and building those relationships as opposed to spending 5k or whatever it is out of my own pocket to scout some player that wouldn't touch the team I am a scout for. You're failing to account for some draft classes not being as strong as others, furthermore not accounting for these kids seriously looking at NCAA schools.
There are some organizations that simply cannot compete against top OHL programs and top NCAA schools. It's not so much about scouting players anymore it's about building relationships and greasing palms of people.
FYI: Schiefele was rated a 'B' by OHL Central Scouting. He wasn't drafted with an NCAA commit, and only signed with Barrie after they rolled the dice on him in the Parks trade. Had he been drafted and offered an education package right away, he would have came to any time. That said, may not have been the same player. Need to know the background on players before throwing them out there.
With regards to players playing the NCAA game, how often has that happened in the past three years. Sure, Domi was London or bust, but after that, the 2011 draft was all fair game. Anyone could have drafted Horvat, he almost went 4th. With the new rules, there hasn't really been to many games played. There are some who don't really put the work in, don't pay attention to the draft who make assumptions, but there has only been 1 player on the past three years, and none in the last two, its a dead issue.
And you ignored my question if Mark Hunter ran Peterborough would he have had the same success, it goes both ways.
Sure he would. Look where London was when he went there. A broken franchise, with good history but a frustrated fan base. Sounds similar to Peterborough. The Petes have never had an issue with players reporting, its drafting in the 3rd, 4th and 5th round, bringing in the players that can play roles.
I don't see the upside in spending a lot of money in scouting when kids are going to dictate where they go.
But again, over the last two years, who's dictated anything? We use to have 2-3 a year, now? Nothing...the new rules have made it too attractive for teams to pick them (a la Kingston) and NCAA schools arn't committing too many players before the OHL draft anymore. Its corrected itself.
It's not so much about scouting players anymore it's about building relationships and greasing palms of people.
What players and what pams have been greased. I get that at one point there was an issue, and I get that you perceive there still is, but unless your in the rinks, talking to kids and their reps, how can you know what the culture of the draft is today?
Back to my original point, you suggested that there was a financial inequity with regards to scouting, that it wasn't financially viable for 'smaller market teams'. You since have changed your stance that its 'not worth it' to scout. What changed your mind?
Here is a quick tip from my time as a Scout/Coach/Etc. Those teams that win, the ones that keep winning playoff series, that are in the playoffs, are lead by GMs who put their work in and are at games. Its not a 'grease palms' situation, its working.The teams who fail, the ones who rarely make the playoffs and have poor systems and poor internal depth, are the ones who don't have GMs who put their work in. They sit at home and are not willing to make the same sacrifices as guys like Mark Hunter. The turn around in Guelph isn't because Mike Kelly came in and 'greased palms' its because they have made intelligent picks, and Mike is always in rinks. Its so easy, but so few GM's are actually willing to do it. No one wants to make that sacrifice.
The GM's who stay until 8 or 9pm are the ones who always seem to have the best teams, the ones who leave a 3-4pm are the ones who struggle to put together strong teams. You think thats chance?
If your GM is allowing himself to be outworked by Mark Hunter, that's a massive issue. You can control your work ethic and your ability to find those guys in the 3rd, 4th and 5th rounds. You can control your ability to go to a Midget game and find a Josh Anderson, he was out there for anyone, but Mark Hunter went to a Midget tournament, one that no one else went too, and found him. You can control all these things, but not many are willing to do so. Until you do, London will continue to win.
