How good is the Jets scouting staff?

[McNurse]

It seems like they just keep on picking up great prospects. Especially the 2015 draft, Roslovic, Connor, Harkins and Spacek are all looking like great picks.

 

[mcpw]

I'll give them four out of five Don Cherry thumbs up pics.

 

[CorgisPer60]

I'll give them four out of five Don Cherry thumbs up pics.

How many good, young Canadian boys from Etobicoke or Kitchener did they pick?

 

[Whileee]

They've been consistently good, with only the occasional flub (e.g. Lukas Sutter).

Below are my favourite picks. * denotes currently in the NHL.

2011

Scheifele* (1st round)
Lowry* (3rd round)

2012

Trouba* (1st)
Hellebuyck (5th)

2013

Morrissey (1st)
Petan* (2nd)
Comrie (2nd)
Copp* (4th)
Kostalek (4th)

2014

Ehlers* (1st)
De Leo (4th)

2015

Connor (1st)
Roslovic (1st)
Harkins (2nd)
Foley (3rd)
Spacek (4th)

 

[mcpw]

How many good, young Canadian boys from Etobicoke or Kitchener did they pick?

Haven't picked from the OHL since 2013, drafted more Americans than GOCBs since. That's why only 4/5.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Right there with Anaheim IMO.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Certainly better then the Atlanta Thrasher's scouts

 

[Romang67]

Certainly better then the Atlanta Thrasher's scouts

The amazing thing is that they, before pumping in more money to hire more scouts, were largely the same group.

 

[Whileee]

Certainly better then the Atlanta Thrasher's scouts

The amazing thing is that they, before pumping in more money to hire more scouts, were largely the same group.

This.

Jets put a lot more resources into scouting than the Thrashers. They also invested in prospect development.

It's hard to know whether Chevy changed the focus / emphasis of the scouts but their picks have focused on prospects with high skill and hockey sense. They don't seem concerned about drafting smaller players if they are highly skilled.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

EXTREMELY impressive organization. Seems like all the scouts/management is on same page and they have produced many good players and also have many good prospects.

Well done Jets... They need to continue drafting well and producing players because Winnipeg will always be a hard place to attract any big name UFA's.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

Not only is the organization have good scouts but you'd be amazed how good Winnipeg is at developing prospects. Go to their prospect camp and you'll see.

 

[Whileee]

EXTREMELY impressive organization. Seems like all the scouts/management is on same page and they have produced many good players and also have many good prospects.

Well done Jets... They need to continue drafting well and producing players because Winnipeg will always be a hard place to attract any big name UFA's.

I think that very few teams will be able to benefit much from big name UFAs. The best ones will get locked up by their team, and the available ones that are worth a big contract will be few and far between, and probably overpaid.

Sneaky UFA signings are more likely to make a difference, like when the Jets signed Perreault for $3M per year. Having a strong pipeline of prospects and a bit of cap space to nab good value players when opportunities arise are going to be they ways to success in the future.

 

[Vachon23]

Yes they are really good honestly i'm jealuse of Winnipeg scoot haha

 

[Whileee]

Not only is the organization have good scouts but you'd be amazed how good Winnipeg is at developing prospects. Go to their prospect camp and you'll see.

Jets have two full-time staff (Jimmy Roy and Mike Keane) working on player development.

Having their AHL affiliate team (Moose) just down the hall from them is likely to add value in the development stream. They now have some of their best non-NHL prospects developing under the careful scrutiny of the Jets' hockey management.

 

[WTFMAN99]

The amazing thing is that they, before pumping in more money to hire more scouts, were largely the same group.

This.

Jets put a lot more resources into scouting than the Thrashers. They also invested in prospect development.

It's hard to know whether Chevy changed the focus / emphasis of the scouts but their picks have focused on prospects with high skill and hockey sense. They don't seem concerned about drafting smaller players if they are highly skilled.

I was actually just being a Smarty...but yeah they are doing well.

 

[Jesus Christ Horburn]

AHL development is their bread and butter, so I'm glad the Manitoba Moose are back in Winnipeg.

It goes all the way back to when they were the farm team of the Vancouver Canucks. IMO, They played a big role in developing guys like Schneider, Kesler, Bieksa, Grabner, etc.

I believe Craig Heisinger (current and previous GM of the Moose / assistant GM of the Jets) was also responsible for finding Burrows and Rypien.

 

[lomiller1]

Especially the 2015 draft, Roslovic, Connor, Harkins and Spacek are all looking like great picks.

Don’t forget Niku.

 

[CorgisPer60]

AHL development is their bread and butter, so I'm glad the Manitoba Moose are back in Winnipeg.

It goes all the way back to when they were the farm team of the Vancouver Canucks. IMO, They played a big role in developing guys like Schneider, Kesler, Bieksa, Grabner, etc.

I believe Craig Heisinger (current and previous GM of the Moose / assistant GM of the Jets) was also responsible for finding Burrows and Rypien.

Now if only they could find decent AHL vets to augment and take away some of the pressure on the young players. I'm still salty that they didn't give Jaffray a contract. Dude's over a PPG over in the DEL, set a record for most goals to start the season, and was voted player of the month for October.

 

[Curufinwe]

They're good, but Connor was a no brainer with Barzal gone.

 

[McNurse]

They're good, but Connor was a no brainer with Barzal gone.[/QUOTE

Connor and Barzal are about the same. But id say Barzal has more of a two way game in em

 

[Tripod]

They're good, but Connor was a no brainer with Barzal gone.[/QUOTE

Connor and Barzal are about the same. But id say Barzal has more of a two way game in em

Lots of Flyers fans felt that if we went with a forward, Barzal would be gone to NJ and Connor was a guy we wanted at #7.

To see him drop like he did draft day was a surprise and he will be a good pickup for the Jets.

 

[CorgisPer60]

They're good, but Connor was a no brainer with Barzal gone.

*insert sly comment about Boston here*

 

[DonskoiDonscored]

Their USHL/NCAA/WHL scouting is incredible. Those guys deserve a raise.

 

[allan5oh]

Scouting:

Mostly the same crew, but expanded and I assume with better metrics under Cheveldayoff. They've really reached some far places. Plucked Hellebuyck out of the NAHL. Got lucky with that one, apparently our scout was there to see another goalie. I think it was Rick St. Croix.

Development:

This is probably the biggest change and we haven't even seen the full effects. TNSE owns the AHL club which the former owners never did. Zach Redmond, Paul Postma, Ben Chiarot have all come from the team as non-jets picks. I'd say those are development wins, although Redmond is back in the AHL. Chiarot has top four promise, not bad for a guy who cleared waivers a year ago.

Adam Lowry is a good example of someone that came through our AHL team. Now he's a good #3C.

Hellebuyck has had a year in the AHL. We moved out Dusty Imoo in favor of Rick St. Croix.

Compare that to the Thrashers. How well were Burmistrov and Kane developed? Both dropped into the NHL immediately.

The current management sent down Scheifele twice, let Trouba develop in college, Morrissey is in the AHL for his first year pro, Hellebuyck is getting another year pro, etc..

The first real benefit from development we've had is when Chiarot was called up. We're starting to see the benefits of good development.

Ownership

Patience is key here. Draft and develop. No shortcuts allowed. The model of the Jets isn't Cheveldayoff, it reflects ownership. When they picked up the Thrashers the cupboards were absolutely bare. Our best prospect was Carl Klingberg. I knew damn well the first 2-3 years would be very lean. There was going to be a "hole" because we had no current prospects, and the ones we would pick weren't going to be given the chance to turn pro.

Now management is starting to be really picky with their NHL contracts. 50 contract limit. Prospects such as Olkinuora, Harstad, Serville and Stoykewych received AHL contracts whereas before they might get NHL ones.

The process is maturing before our eyes.

 

[mcpw]

AHL development is their bread and butter, so I'm glad the Manitoba Moose are back in Winnipeg.

There are currently six Cheveldayoff draft picks playing for the Jets: Scheifele, Lowry, Trouba, Petan, Copp, Ehlers.

These six players combine for a career total of 73 regular season AHL games.

I believe it when I see it.