Relevant tidbits:
- hates dump and chase, old school coaches
- values skill over size 100% after the first few rounds. size is always secondary.
- playing time is king
- dug heavily into character like parents and schooling in Tampa once Yzerman arrived.
- made mistakes on the guys they looked the other way on re: character
- seeing kids with mental problems, medication, overall negative impact of social media
- last 8-9 years having prospect coaches that travel to work with them is really important
- kids are brought up not to hit and fight nowadays. they don't even think about scrums or anything that draws a penalty.
- hockey is a year long program now
- pro players that move to the states raise their kids there, with their expertise, brain-draining Canada
- availability of ice/shinny is key to producing NHL talent. Videogames/ease of entertainment lowering participation.
- Matthews was on standby and would play whenever, for whatever team. Just wanted to be on the ice. Icetime is king.
- how open is a player's mind to change?
Went to Tampa to be the Head Scout. Was a good chance to get in at the ground level (last place team).
- Brayden Point was pure luck. Same with Cirelli.
- Plandowski and Al Murray 'cross over' and go to scout players, while all the other scouts on the team stay in their area of expertise and know their guys. Not exactly common.
- not afraid at all to draft older players (Gudas, Palat)
- Point was small but smart, bad skater. Difference was his work ethic with the skating coach (Barb Underhill)
- some years the quality just isnt there, top 10 picks are super stressful
- at the end of the day they are still 17 year olds who are now suddenly millionaires.
- Scheifele an example of player that came out of nowhere and didn't show up in prescouting.