nhl_draft_history.xlsx | |
File Size: | 16 kb |
File Type: | xlsx |
Methods of Scouting
Video Scouting
I’d emphasize the importance of video scouting in a few ways. Hockey is a game comprised of a plethora of broken plays. In a nutshell, whichever team can adapt the best wins. A key component in a team’s success is the chemistry between the players on the ice. Even more so than talent and skill, the single attribute that contributes most to chemistry is a player’s hockey sense. One’s ability to read the play makes the world go around, or in this case, the puck. From cycling down low, to setting up along the half boards, to finding that player in the slot - chemistry is important. And with hockey sense, comes chemistry. For the most part, any broadcast captures this
because the focus is on “the play”.
But how do we capture a player’s leadership ability? Do we simply await the winner of the Mark Messier leadership award? Do we base it on which Captains leads their team to a division championship? Or do we wait for a veteran to guarantee a victory in a playoff game? It might be a wise idea to have a camera solely on the bench focusing on the communication and interaction amongst the players and coaches. That may even detect a player’s attention on the game and alertness to “the play”. Are some players going through the motions shift after shift or is their mind truly in the game?
The next aspect of the game that is under a microscope is the one that gets the most attention. It’s the gift wrap that makes the present standout. That WOW factor that gets fans out of their seats. A player’s skill set and talent level compared to his peers. This is predominantly how a player gets graded. As we read scouting reports from various sources, we see that the players are critiqued in a few different categories such as poise, strength, speed, endurance, durability, balance, agility, acceleration, stick checking, shot blocking, fighting, face-offs, discipline, defensive, awareness, body checking, aggressiveness, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, puck control, passing, offensive awareness, hand-eye coordination and deking. In a way, it’s like a skills competition that everyone gets graded on.
A scout’s game report is simply a recollection of production. Those reports filed by scouts are notes on a player’s performance however many times throughout a season. That old fashioned method is too unreliable and I would not base the future of a franchise on notes from scouts who likely vary on opinion.
Video scouting should play a more prominent role in today’s world of scouting, perhaps as if it’s the only method in scouting players. A video is everlasting evidence of what is. It’ll provide self-assurance and will help you make the right choice in the draft. It should also be used as an educational tool for a player who needs to refine his game. It’ll allow us all to rein act Howie Meeker’s famous line of “Stop It There, Back It Up” when we analyze decisions made by players on the ice.
I’d emphasize the importance of video scouting in a few ways. Hockey is a game comprised of a plethora of broken plays. In a nutshell, whichever team can adapt the best wins. A key component in a team’s success is the chemistry between the players on the ice. Even more so than talent and skill, the single attribute that contributes most to chemistry is a player’s hockey sense. One’s ability to read the play makes the world go around, or in this case, the puck. From cycling down low, to setting up along the half boards, to finding that player in the slot - chemistry is important. And with hockey sense, comes chemistry. For the most part, any broadcast captures this
because the focus is on “the play”.
But how do we capture a player’s leadership ability? Do we simply await the winner of the Mark Messier leadership award? Do we base it on which Captains leads their team to a division championship? Or do we wait for a veteran to guarantee a victory in a playoff game? It might be a wise idea to have a camera solely on the bench focusing on the communication and interaction amongst the players and coaches. That may even detect a player’s attention on the game and alertness to “the play”. Are some players going through the motions shift after shift or is their mind truly in the game?
The next aspect of the game that is under a microscope is the one that gets the most attention. It’s the gift wrap that makes the present standout. That WOW factor that gets fans out of their seats. A player’s skill set and talent level compared to his peers. This is predominantly how a player gets graded. As we read scouting reports from various sources, we see that the players are critiqued in a few different categories such as poise, strength, speed, endurance, durability, balance, agility, acceleration, stick checking, shot blocking, fighting, face-offs, discipline, defensive, awareness, body checking, aggressiveness, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, puck control, passing, offensive awareness, hand-eye coordination and deking. In a way, it’s like a skills competition that everyone gets graded on.
A scout’s game report is simply a recollection of production. Those reports filed by scouts are notes on a player’s performance however many times throughout a season. That old fashioned method is too unreliable and I would not base the future of a franchise on notes from scouts who likely vary on opinion.
Video scouting should play a more prominent role in today’s world of scouting, perhaps as if it’s the only method in scouting players. A video is everlasting evidence of what is. It’ll provide self-assurance and will help you make the right choice in the draft. It should also be used as an educational tool for a player who needs to refine his game. It’ll allow us all to rein act Howie Meeker’s famous line of “Stop It There, Back It Up” when we analyze decisions made by players on the ice.
Analyzing Players for the professional game
Players’ skillset are analyzed and graded on
twenty-five different attributes. Eligible players for the upcoming draft
are ranked as North American Skaters, North American Goalies,
International Skaters, or International Goalies.