How good is the Jets scouting staff?

[winnipegger]

Ehlers isn't a prospect anymore. Anyone who thinks this kid won't be in the NHL from here on out is out to lunch.

Jets are in the top 5 drafting teams since 2011, can't really be argued and is generally agreed upon.

 

[Dodospice]

Just doing a quick breakdown of who I would have taken, if I was Winnipeg in each draft.

2011: Sean Couturier, Adam Lowry, Nick Shore, Seth Ambroz, Laurent Brossoit, Matt Mahalak, Matthew Peca

2012: Jacob Trouba, Martin Frk, Scott Kosmachuk, Seth Griffin, Tomas Hyka, Nick Ebert

2013: Ryan Pulock, Nicolas Petan, Eric Comrie, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Jan Kostalek, Jordan Subban, Will Butcher, Fabrice Herzog, Brenden Kichton, MacKenzie Weegar

2014: Nikolaj Ehlers, Anton Karlsson, Chase De Leo, Alexis Vanier, Daniel Audette, Jaden Lindo, Julien Nantel

2015: Kyle Connor, Jeremy Roy, Jeremy Bracco, Tommy Novak, Parker Wotherspoon, Nikita Korostelev, Adam Marsh, Loik Leveille

Now by no means, am I an NHL scout and I would have struck out on a lot of picks. However, even though I didn't agree with some of their picks at the time I do believe Winnipeg has a fantastic scouting staff. They've put some real real good players into their system.

 

[Hank Chinaski]

Yeah, I mentioned the facts about 16 impact NHLers they panned as draft picks over the five years as a joke!

I brought reasons.

Please do likewise.

Unproven potential compared to actual NHL success over the last five draft years. The Jets have a weak track record of successful drafting compared to THE OPTIONS THEY HAD!
I thought so then, and now. I have not admired their drafting (other than I'm hopeful about unproven Ehlers - I buy the hype).

Wants to be taken seriously. Thinks Grigorenko would've been a better pick than Trouba.

 

[Zaddy]

Jets is my favorite team when it comes to drafting. Agree with pretty much every pick they make. What I like about the Jets is they generally make the "no-brainer" pick and doesn't try to outsmart everyone else. They just go with the BPA most of the time and that seems to be panning out very well. Last year they had Ehlers falling into their lap, this year Connor and Harkins fell into their lap while also making a nice selection in Roslovic. Spacek and Niku is looking mighty fine as well. And they just keep finding solid NHLers in the later rounds. Copp, Hellebuyck, Kostalek etc. I really liked what I saw from J.C. Lipon in the pre-season games against the Oilers too, just a pest out there. Would love to see him get a chance in the NHL.

 

[Kalv]

Right there with Anaheim IMO.

Jets are better at picking forwards, we are specialised at defensemen (and goalies if we look ad Andersen and Gibson)

 

[Koonta]

Just doing a quick breakdown of who I would have taken, if I was Winnipeg in each draft.

2011: Sean Couturier, Adam Lowry, Nick Shore, Seth Ambroz, Laurent Brossoit, Matt Mahalak, Matthew Peca

2012: Jacob Trouba, Martin Frk, Scott Kosmachuk, Seth Griffin, Tomas Hyka, Nick Ebert

2013: Ryan Pulock, Nicolas Petan, Eric Comrie, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Jan Kostalek, Jordan Subban, Will Butcher, Fabrice Herzog, Brenden Kichton, MacKenzie Weegar

2014: Nikolaj Ehlers, Anton Karlsson, Chase De Leo, Alexis Vanier, Daniel Audette, Jaden Lindo, Julien Nantel

2015: Kyle Connor, Jeremy Roy, Jeremy Bracco, Tommy Novak, Parker Wotherspoon, Nikita Korostelev, Adam Marsh, Loik Leveille

Now by no means, am I an NHL scout and I would have struck out on a lot of picks. However, even though I didn't agree with some of their picks at the time I do believe Winnipeg has a fantastic scouting staff. They've put some real real good players into their system.

You don't think Connor Hellebuyck should have been taken in 2012 over Seth Griffin?
You are very wrong there.

 

[tony d]

Very good, the Jets have something very good about to happen with that team.

 

[Halfy]

"It's a real laugh."

I, a longtime Thrashers fan who tried to become a Jets fan, have been disappointed by Winnipeg scouting staff picking up:

2011
Scheifele before Couturier, Hamilton, Brodin, Gibson, Jenner, Kucherov

2012
Trouba before Filip Forsberg, Mikhail Grigorenko, Zemgus Girgensons, Cody Ceci, Tomas Hertl, Olli Maatta, Tanner Pearson

2013
Morrissey before Nikita Zadorov, Mirco Mueller, Andre Burakovsky

2014
Nikolaj Ehlers before ... (okay i like the pick but the jury's out on this year) ...Vrana, Honka, Milano, Kapanen, McCann, Goldobin, Ho-Sang

2015 No idea. The Jets first pick and those afterwards have done squat yet.

Therefore..... -3 ADDED TO either +1, 0 or -1 ADDED to 0 = -2 to -4 over the last five drafts. Ugh.

 

[lawrence]

Ehlers isn't a prospect anymore. Anyone who thinks this kid won't be in the NHL from here on out is out to lunch.

Jets are in the top 5 drafting teams since 2011, can't really be argued and is generally agreed upon.

wow thank you for being a honest fan for once.

I was gonna add that it helps to have early picks. but overall they are good picks with exception of their 2011 and 2012 1st picks, other then that, can't complain.

 

[Whileee]

wow thank you for being a honest fan for once.

I was gonna add that it helps to have early picks. but overall they are good picks with exception of their 2011 and 2012 1st picks, other then that, can't complain.

I think Scheifele (#7 in 2011) and Trouba (#9 in 2012) were actually solid first round picks. Both players are already core players on the Jets at key positions - C and RD.

 

[Koonta]

wow thank you for being a honest fan for once.

I was gonna add that it helps to have early picks. but overall they are good picks with exception of their 2011 and 2012 1st picks, other then that, can't complain.

Please explain what you think is wrong with Scheifele and Trouba. Can't fathom why someone would think they were not good picks, makes zero sense.

 

[Royale With Cheese]

I think they've done a very good job of drafting and developing. The fact they've got 3 of their 4 drafted centers actually playing steady roles (Lowry, Scheifele, Copp) is pretty good. Add Ehlers, Petan, and Trouba and I'd say that's pretty impressive drafting in the short time since the time they left Atlanta.

I'm not sure, but is there another organization that's added that many NHL quality players in the last 4 years?

 

[Tripod]

I think Scheifele (#7 in 2011) and Trouba (#9 in 2012) were actually solid first round picks. Both players are already core players on the Jets at key positions - C and RD.

Yeah...I don't get comments like he said. Both those guys are very good players.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Yeah...I don't get comments like he said. Both those guys are very good players.

I remember at the time that Schiefele pick was a bit of a head scratcher cause it was a bit off the board. But now I think that was a solid of a pick as ever. Not many guys at all that were drafted after him that I would take instead of him. There are a couple guys in the 2nd round that I love, but everyone obviously passed on them in the 1st.

and Trouba in '12 was another solid one... maybe a couple guys Id rather have but nothing too crazy(always easy to say that NOW).

non Jets fan saying VERY solid picks they were

 

[Whileee]

I think they've done a very good job of drafting and developing. The fact they've got 3 of their 4 drafted centers actually playing steady roles (Lowry, Scheifele, Copp) is pretty good. Add Ehlers, Petan, and Trouba and I'd say that's pretty impressive drafting in the short time since the time they left Atlanta.

I'm not sure, but is there another organization that's added that many NHL quality players in the last 4 years?

I don't think so, especially when you consider that since 2011 the Jets average pick in the 1st round was at #11. They have had no top-5 picks during that stretch.

 

[Dodospice]

You don't think Connor Hellebuyck should have been taken in 2012 over Seth Griffin?
You are very wrong there.

Now, absolutely Connor Hellebuyck. At the time I don't think. Hellebuyck was an unknown to many, myself included and Griffith was coming off another very strong season in the OHL. No doubt now who is the better prospect, but at the time I would have rolled the dice on Griffith.

 

[newfy]

I think they've done a very good job of drafting and developing. The fact they've got 3 of their 4 drafted centers actually playing steady roles (Lowry, Scheifele, Copp) is pretty good. Add Ehlers, Petan, and Trouba and I'd say that's pretty impressive drafting in the short time since the time they left Atlanta.

I'm not sure, but is there another organization that's added that many NHL quality players in the last 4 years?

Do you mean added to the roster or drafted in that time? The wings have added Tatar, Nyquist, Larkin, Sheahan, Glendening, Dekeyser and Jurco in the last couple of years. Larkin was picked 15th and Sheahan 21st I believe so thats probably pretty comparable. Tampa Bay has also likely added a similar amount I would think with the TKO line and some other guys like Killorn and Palat.

But these are a couple of the only teams that give the jets a run for their money in drafting/development

 

[Whileee]

Do you mean added to the roster or drafted in that time? The wings have added Tatar, Nyquist, Larkin, Sheahan, Glendening, Dekeyser and Jurco in the last couple of years. Larkin was picked 15th and Sheahan 21st I believe so thats probably pretty comparable. Tampa Bay has also likely added a similar amount I would think with the TKO line and some other guys like Killorn and Palat.

But these are a couple of the only teams that give the jets a run for their money in drafting/development

When were they drafted? For the Jets we can only go back to the 2011 draft. Since then the only Wings picks to make the NHL are Jurco, Ouellett and Larkin.

 

[Sweech]

This next year's draft will be interesting as the Jets had a bit of a scouting staff shake up in the offseason.

Marcel Comeau stepped down as Director of Scouting and former Head Scout Mark Hillier was promoted to the role. With no one seemingly taking the former "head scout" title or role. It's almost all administrative duties, I'm just not sure how they're split or if Hillier is taking them all on now.

One of the Jet's best scouts, Tavis MacMillan who was very well liked and respected also left to take a coaching job in the NCAA.

The Jets then hired a new scout for America, specifically the NCAA.

The Jets also continued to shakeup their Swedish scouting both at the pro and amateur level as they haven't really had any success there yet.

 

[allan5oh]

Jets graduations:

2011 - none
2012 - Paul Postma*, Zach Redmond*
2013 - Jacob Trouba, Mark Scheifele
2014 - Adam Lowry, Ben Chiarot*, Michael Hutchinson#
2015 - Nikolaj Ehlers, Nic Petan, Andrew Copp

* Thrashers pick
# Boston didn't qualify, picked up Hutchinson as a FA

Between now and next fall we could see guys like Hellebuyck, Armia, and Morrissey make a case.

 

[Gargyn]

Very good but I think Jets fans are going to be very disappointed in Morrissey. Watching him in Kelowna was painful. He put up some points but I really don't see his game translating well at all. I hope I'm wrong, really like this team.

 

[SpookyTsuki]

too bad winnipeg is probably on the bottom of attractive places to go.

 

[XX]

too bad winnipeg is probably on the bottom of attractive places to go.

... which is why they have probably invested heavily in development and scouting.

 

[Whileee]

too bad winnipeg is probably on the bottom of attractive places to go.

But have been able to re-sign all of their core players over the past 4 years.

Any team that has to build by signing free agents won't be very good in the long run.

 

[Tripod]

But have been able to re-sign all of their core players over the past 4 years.

Any team that has to build by signing free agents won't be very good in the long run.

Agreed...those days are long gone.

We all know what FA is all about. Most top gets that get there get overpaid and have contract risks by the end of their deal. Then the rest tend to be fillers...bottom 6 guys, etc.

That's why signing Buff or re-signing him is tough. He will want big money AND term. But he will be 31 to start his cntract. So do you pay big money and term for his 31-38 year old seasons? Yet he has showed no signs of slowing down. Ideally, a team would want to sign him for 4 years...not 7-8 that he will likely get.

innipeg has built thru the draft. But that is also easier to do when you are a non-playoff team and sellers instead of buyers come the deadline. That is why I give Detroit the highest props.