News Article: Rick Pracey Hired as Director of Amateur Scouting

[Took a pill in Sbisa]

Hopefully the next step is replacing Milan Tichy as Director of European Amateur Scouting. There can't be anyone in hockey circles with a worse track record.

 

[brentashton]

Are you guys missing the point here? Or am I?

It doesn't matter one iota if Pracey is any good or not!

You are.

Actually it does matter. Change for the sake of change is a nothing burger. Change for improvement is what you always strive for.

 

[Heavy Dee]

My gawd. We might not have liked Wright, but this guy has an abysmal track record.

This definitely wasn't endorsed by Holland which pretty much hammers the nail in his coffin after this season.

 

[Heavy Dee]

The conversation went like :

Jackson: Ken who do we have scouting the OHL.

Holland: ah, you will have to ask Tyler.

Jackson: Tyler who do you have scouting the O?

Wright: ya I have been working on that.

Jackson: you're not any more.

 

[KenLinsemanFanClub]

Possibly, granted since Wright joined the team he's had these picks in those 4 years:

3-1sts (numbers 14, 22, and 32 and one of them has already been traded in a trade yielding Ekholm)
1-2nd (drafted in 2023)
1-3rd (2021 draft)
2-4ths (2020, 2021)
3-5ths
5-6ths
4-7ths

Exactly 6 picks in the top 100 of any draft over a 4 year period. Players drafted outside the top 100 seldomly impact within 5-6 years. So we don't really know what to expect.

The only 5 picks he made in the top 100 still with the team are:
- Holloway who people seem to like,
- Bourgeault who still has a chance granted there were others in his range I'd rather have right now, -- Munzenburger who's a slow burn defenseman working his way through NCAA
- Carter Savoie (100th overall) who's had two years pro. Nothing special but not a complete right off yet.
- Beau Akey, way too early to tell.

He's also had some further back that are showing promise so far like Tullio, Wanner, and Petrov.

His record in Edmonton is a big pile of "yet TBD".

Savoie has only had one year pro.

 

[aspin3]

The amateur scouting here has been trash for a long, long time, this organization can't draft for shit unless they're getting gift wrapped a top 3 pick.

Not sure if Pracey is some big upgrade, but I guess Jackson did not like Wright.

Taking a wild guess and saying maybe Jackson isn't big on the Broberg, Holloway, Bourgault, etc. picks.

This makes it more likely that Holland is dead man walking as Wright was Holland's guy brought here from Detroit.

Except for Chaison the 2021 draft is gold.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

I have not been a huge fan of Wright so far, hopefully the new guy comes in and makes the most of whatever picks we have left and/or helps to identify prospects that are quality players but not getting the opportunity they need to break out as NHL players.

 

[Anarchism]

You are.

Actually it does matter. Change for the sake of change is a nothing burger. Change for improvement is what you always strive for.

So you believe this about Talent not about establishing a timeline of change ...starting in a particular place.....and removing a smaller piece and progressively moving on to justifying an early Holland firing and replacement?
With the new GM bringing in his own Amateur scouting?
Why would the New Chief choose a new Amateur scout? Or do you think this was a move made in conjunction with Holland?
This is about Jeff slowly acquiring enough power to control the new GMs being brought in ....of course its about the power balance.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

You're aware that scouts have contracts and such until after drafts right?

The Oilers arent going into a draft with that position vacant.

Gee really? I had no idea…

 

[brentashton]

So you believe this about Talent not about establishing a timeline of change ...starting in a particular place.....and removing a smaller piece and progressively moving on to justifying a earyly Holland firing and replacement?

Did you not read my post? It’s very clear what I stated in response to your earlier post. Not sure what your confused about.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

Gee really? I had no idea…

You usually dont.

 

[Anarchism]

Did you not read my post? It’s very clear what I stated in response to your earlier post. Not sure what your confused about.

okay

 

[FlameChampion]

Its hard to know if Wright has done a good job. He doesn’t get a lot of picks to use. I will say that his draft interviews didn’t inspire confidence. I think amateur drafting requires passionate scouts, which he didn’t seem to have.

Don’t know anything about Pracey but coming from Philadelphia doesn’t inspire confidence. Not sure what he’s done in the last decade but it doesn’t look great. But hard to know what happens behind the scenes.

I will say that our development has been pretty bad lately. This team really isn’t churning out much for NHL players. Whether it’s drafting or development, its pretty lack luster. Kinda wonder what Keith Gretzky has been upto.

Its pretty telling that a fanatical Oilers board can’t even be bothered to rate our top prospects anymore. It’s kinda fizzled out.

 

[brentashton]

So you believe this about Talent not about establishing a timeline of change ...starting in a particular place.....and removing a smaller piece and progressively moving on to justifying an early Holland firing and replacement?
With the new GM bringing in his own Amateur scouting?
Why would the New Chief choose a new Amateur scout? Or do you think this was a move made in conjunction with Holland?
This is about Jeff slowly acquiring enough power to control the new GMs being brought in ....of course its about the power balance.

Rather than obfuscating the discussion with edits to your post after I’ve already responded, go back to your original post # 43…

Are you guys missing the point here? Or am I?

It doesn't matter one iota if Pracey is any good or not!

This is what I referred to When I said it does matter. Change “just because” isn’t strong leadership, nor do I think it’s what JJ is doing. He made the change with an eye towards improvement. Whether it happens will be evaluated and debated in the future.

Anyway, I’ve read enough of your previous posts to know that it’s futile to have a discussion with you. I’m out on this one.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

I don't know if they talked about any other specific words. I just remember safe being referenced in a tweet.

I think the gist of it was prospects with some form of shooting and playmaking mentioned without any mention of intangibles had the highest chance to outproduce their draft status.

His scouting report source appears to be a single amateur 'scouting' publication which would have wide variance of observers in terms of their ability to assess NHL talent, likely have extremely limited viewing and limited to no access to influencers around the prospects like coaches, managers, teammates, family, ,etc. Zero skin in the game to make million dollar decisions. Not a big shock there would be a bunch of jargony buzzwords.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Good riddance TW.

Rather than obfuscating the discussion with edits to your post after I’ve already responded, go back to your original post # 43…


This is what I referred to When I said it does matter. Change “just because” isn’t strong leadership, nor do I think it’s what JJ is doing. He made the change with an eye towards improvement. Whether it happens will be evaluated and debated in the future.

Anyway, I’ve read enough of your previous posts to know that it’s futile to have a discussion with you. I’m out on this one.

I’ve no idea who you’re responding to because of >Block< but I fully endorse your post.

 

[Sheikyerbouti]

Change is good and this shows who is the real POHO, ie not holland.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Possibly, granted since Wright joined the team he's had these picks in those 4 years:

3-1sts (numbers 14, 22, and 32 and one of them has already been traded in a trade yielding Ekholm)
1-2nd (drafted in 2023)
1-3rd (2021 draft)
2-4ths (2020, 2021)
3-5ths
5-6ths
4-7ths

Exactly 6 picks in the top 100 of any draft over a 4 year period. Players drafted outside the top 100 seldomly impact within 5-6 years. So we don't really know what to expect.

The only 5 picks he made in the top 100 still with the team are:
- Holloway who people seem to like,
- Bourgeault who still has a chance granted there were others in his range I'd rather have right now, -- Munzenburger who's a slow burn defenseman working his way through NCAA
- Carter Savoie (100th overall) who's had two years pro. Nothing special but not a complete right off yet.
- Beau Akey, way too early to tell.

He's also had some further back that are showing promise so far like Tullio, Wanner, and Petrov.

His record in Edmonton is a big pile of "yet TBD".

I think this is a fair and reasoned assessment. The Oilers have been opening their competitive window during the Wright era here. That's meant mid to later first round picks where the 'hit' likelihood drops substantively and longer development time is reality. There have been fewer picks as the organization has used some for deadline deals or help a move cap dump. There's been some movement to target undersized skill players with mid-draft picks on Tullio, Savoie along with a quality Russian CHL player in Petrov. Mining some decent mid-late round bets on Russian players. And an end of draft RD Warner who they signed essentially immediately. As well, Munzenberger is a national level d-man who wore a letter on his U20 team adjusting through slow cook North American play in NCAA. Add Akey this year who is a great skating right shot d with some latent potential as a puck mover and prospectively offence.

That's without considering their mid to late first round pedigree guys, Holloway, Bourgeault, and Reid Shaefer who was the prospect required to add in the Ekholm trade.

We can better assess Wright's legacy in three to five years. What I see above is some reasonable logic to mine areas that can produce results like undersized skill players in mid rounds.

 

[brentashton]

Good riddance.



I’ve no idea who you’re responding to because of >Block< but I fully endorse your post.

I too need to use that site feature a bit more I see!

 

[FlameChampion]

Change is good and this shows who is the real POHO, ie not holland.

We will see how it turns out but it doesn’t really look like a home run for Jackson if hes the one behind it.

 

[The Nuge]

I can’t help but be concerned about this. He’s got a pretty horrific track record. 2009 was obviously a massive win, but his only other NHLers in his 7 years in charge in Colorado were MacKinnon (1st overall) and Landeskog (2nd overall). His busts include Bleackley at 23, Siemens at 11, and Hishon at 17. And he was only a scout in Philly, but massive busts like Rubtsov and O’Brien don’t really help his case.

 

[Oilhawks]

Meh?

 

[FlameChampion]

I can’t help but be concerned about this. He’s got a pretty horrific track record. 2009 was obviously a massive win, but his only other NHLers in his 7 years in charge in Colorado were MacKinnon (1st overall) and Landeskog (2nd overall). His busts include Bleackley at 23, Siemens at 11, and Hishon at 17. And he was only a scout in Philly, but massive busts like Rubtsov and O’Brien don’t really help his case.

Agreed. Ultimately we don’t know what happens behind the scenes. You could be a great scout but if the GM or Owner overrule you it doesn’t matter. But ultimately it just feels like this guy hasn’t been relevant for over a decade to me. Probably a harsh take and hopefully I am wrong but /shrug.

 

[TheNumber4]

Holland really brought alot of trash with him from Detroit didn’t he. Years wasted with Archie as Pro Scout and now years wasted with Wright. Was hopeful the Oilers were turning the corner when it came to scouting when Holland was brought on, but it’s pretty apparent that both Archie and Wright weren’t getting the job done.

 

[Anarchism]

Rather than obfuscating the discussion with edits to your post after I’ve already responded, go back to your original post # 43…


This is what I referred to When I said it does matter. Change “just because” isn’t strong leadership, nor do I think it’s what JJ is doing. He made the change with an eye towards improvement. Whether it happens will be evaluated and debated in the future.

Anyway, I’ve read enough of your previous posts to know that it’s futile to have a discussion with you. I’m out on this one.

I was just agreeing with you. Though Pracey is likely short term and a place filler i guess it does matter as he will do alot of base work in his time for the next few months.