He's not a bad scout, he has been an NHL scout for a long-time and before that he was a member of HFBoards. You just underestimate how much of being a scout, even at the NHL level is circumstance and willingness to climb a ladder that most people just don't want to do. You act like it's a lucrative and desirable life and people are all there based on merit and not who they know. In a ways it's a lot like the coaching ladder in football.
No one was saying Byfield was going to be ready to dominate right away, not every top pick is, but most top picks play in the NHL because it prepares them to be productive quicker so in their D+2 they are more ready to contribute. The process? What did Byfield and Turcotte get out of spending last year playing in practice facilities in the AHL? Byfield looks lost playing center in the NHL, Turcotte has been moved to wing and still hasn't found a consistent offensive game. What process are you talking about?
No, one has to be a certain type to be a scout, 100% agree with that....it's sure as hell not lucrative, I guess depending on how you value things.
Who said anything about dominating right away, Byfield WAS NOT READY FOR THE NHL....right away, not dominate, not ready at all, and LA has a huge history of rushing picks before they are ready, and ruining them, and yet, you want them to continue to do that, that's baffling.
Process - decision making, positioning, Byfield at times, has looked lost, timid etc, last night was a decent game for him, despite me wanting him to challenge defenders more one on one, he looked more comfortable, but you think Byfield looks lost his year, imagine last year....and multiply it, prospects are all different, Zegras comes in and goes on a tear, then has to go back down, Terry, takes 5 years to get where he is, Hischier, took 4 years etc, Laff looks lost, etc, look at Tampa Bay.....last two cup winners etc, who do you think they RUSHED into playing,
Go back to 2010
Connolly - rushed him, then had to spend 2 years in the AHL
Kucherov - played in the KHL, then tore up the AHL in his 17 games etc..
Palat - same draft....2 years in the AHL
Drouin - rushed him right in, he wasn't near being ready
Point - 5 years in the WHL and a few games in the AHL
Foote - 2-3 years in the AHL
The fact is, there is no ONE way to develop prospects, one way might work for Kucherov because of his talent, and playing against men, and might not with Byfield....