Marner over Strome?
Didn't want to quote the whole thing, but fantastic post all the way through. I can't even imagine the work and effort that goes into building those connections and developing a reputation like yours...I'm not even sure how you're able to stay unbiased when it comes to this sort of thing. Obviously all that's not something many of us around here would ever be capable of doing, so as always it's good to have you here.
Always wondered this -- when you're scouting a player, around how many times do you have to see them before you get a good feel for their skillset and potential? I'm assuming it differs for everyone, but I watch a lot of college hockey and I'm always thrown off when I see a certain player 10+ times (live and on tv) and still don't understand what actual scouts see in them...
I'll use Skinner as an example because that's a name I brought up already.
I had seen him play in Midget a few times and had my doubts he could play in the OHL.
But after watching him his pre-draft year, it took one game to realize this is a kid to watch the next two seasons entering his draft year.
After talking to him a couple of times and the people around him many more, it was obvious the kid had the mentality to make it. While everyone I knew was making fun of his figure skating background (it brought memories back of an old Hockey Night in Canada segment called "who is a better skater, a hockey player or figure skater"? It featured Dave Keon and I forget the figure skater) I saw something different.
Skinner is one of the most technically sound skaters I have ever come across. There aren't many better at using their edges. He can turn on a dime. He is one of the top skaters in the NHL today.
Then there were people knocking his speed. They said the lack of speed would hurt him. But I remember a game in which Windsor was playing in Kitchener. Skinner was a stride back of Taylor Hall, who we all know is a gifted skater with speed. Skinner out-raced him to the puck. Now, unless you were one of the 6000 people in attendance, would anyone really know that?
I got into a back and forth with Bob McKenzie on twitter over the Sergachev vs Juolevi debate. Of course I was a Sergachev guy. His argument was Juolevi's WJ performance. Mine was from day one until the end of the season, Sergachev was the better choice. That season, I had seen both guys 20+ times maybe.
In the end, you can get a gut feeling on a guy the first time you see them. But really, I look at their pre draft year until the end of their draft year. It's a two to three year window in some cases - a guy like Evan Bouchard who impressed me his first OHL game as a 15 year old, entering his third and draft season this year.
It's one of the reasons I stopped doing mid-season rankings. Really, they are pointless until all is said and done. Again, Skinner was ranked third round entering his draft year. Second round at mid-term and ended up 7th overall. I'm being a bit hypocritical here though, because from start to finish I thought he should be a top 5 pick. But then again, I saw a lot of him the year before.
But back to the article. I think I'm pretty knowledgeable. There are plenty of people that think I'm more knowledgeable that even I think I am. But I would never put an article like that together. I'm just not that knowledgeable.
And with all due respect to the writer, I don't think he is either.
