Does Tampa have the best Pro Scouting Department?

[Perfect_Drug]

Back when Chris Pronger played in Edmonton, he made a tweener scrub look like a legitimate #2 stud Dman in Marc Andre Bergeron.

Elite players can make middling talent look exceptional.

Pat Maroon scored 27 goals on McDavids wing.
Kailer Yamamoto scored 20 goals on Draisaitls wing.


The reason I bring this up, is that a lot of "pro scouting moves" look like brilliant scouting, but ultimately it likely has to do with being able to play with higher-end talent.

Acquiring Bogosian, or Shattenkirk aren't shrewd scouting moves. They were put in a depth position and somewhat sheltered due to having a much better partner that can carry them.

Getting them to Play with Sergachev on a 3rd pairing isn't a shrewd scouting move.

 

[Five Alarm Fire]

JJ Moser is the other sneaky good pickup from this offseason. But I don’t think we’re the best, as others have pointed out there are counter-examples (Jeannot, Sheary).

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Bill Zito is the best pro scouting department

Good thing the Oilers pivoted to Ken Holland when he became available....

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

Canes lost two Top 4 defensemen and two Top 6 forwards this offseason and everyone (justifiably) predicted them to take a major step back. Especially when they didn’t seem to replace any of the above. But the scouts identified players that would work in the system and Carolina, at least thus far, hasn’t seemed to have lost a step.

Now if only those scouts could find a healthy goalie…

It’s really not just this year though either. Nino was an awesome find years ago, Skjei, Trocheck, DeAngelo briefly, Chatfield has been an incredible find, Fast, Noesen, probably some others I'm missing.

Like the Bolts, yeah the core pieces have been home grown but both teams have done a great job of filling in the gaps through pro scouting with great finds that fit in very well.

I'd say Florida is the best in this regard though just from the star power they've gotten from other teams' "scraps." Quite a bit of their core is not home grown.

 

[Dread Clawz]

Bill Zito is the best pro scouting department

It's not just him, he has a team around him. The pro scouts, Dudley, McCabe, Jackson, Fenton, Luongo. They all do a great job.

 

[Canovin]

Winnipeg is underrated. So is Dallas