SUFFERING FROM BLURRED VISION
Scouts hadn’t finished their draft reports when COVID-19 shut hockey down. Prospect projections will be cloudier than normal
Wepovplaepynoetrutsaulnfloyitrytgthoeets2e0lte2hc0et HEN NHL TEAMS draft, it’s going to be very difpBfeaernceadnuetsmefiroco,f mthme pgalrnoeybvaiol iuCmsOpVoyIrDeta-a1rns9t. draft-related twoeurengamenstsand cancelled, gividnegpartmesnctosutiingtecoenmapglertse cards on the threeypaoret ecior uolrdagabnoiuztatoiownse.lc“oTmheisindtroatfht sdhcreoaaufdt.-.”s“cIrtamtcihgehrt,”besaaidn olndesbNteHylLae Think of the drafts back otfeEamursopheaadnfsuclol uctosm–ptlheebmeefnortse hCahvrinstgera RHoackkasntrAonmdaeyrsswonheonr wExapsecat lusexluercyt,ionnost tao nbeecemssoitrye. vliostlastvilaerythinagngurseuaatlly, wfroitmh tferanmmchoisre thoafnraunscuhails)e. (again, even While scouts always assess abopdlyayoefrw’sovrkaltuheatbsaesaesdonon– nthoet jbuustt itnhteerenattirioentyalotfouthrenarmegeunltasr,
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THIS DRAFT COULD BE A HEADSCRATCHER. IT MIGHT BE AN OLD-STYLE DRAFT – NHL scout
yGeanre, rsaolsa binig tshheowOiHnLg wpiltahyothffes cinouhlids shtaovcek. mOvaedreina Wdiifnfedrseonr,cea pair of draft-eligibles, Jean-Luc hFoavuedyusaendda Wruinll wCiutyhllteh,ecSopuiltdfires to improve upon pedestrianOreng-iuclearssceoaustoinngs.is only part (cowof mtithhbeinceeaqnuicnaetliBloauntfi.foaWnloitahporteshatepl odpnroaesfdtsibility), NHL teams won’t get to meet the draft prospects tDhreafstamcoemwbainyethweyeeuksufeaalltyurdeos. tinea-pmesr,sbount GMinstearnvdieowthser tweaitmh dexinencseroaftsenwetallk, egipvilnaygeervseoruyot ntoe agocohdanacfeittcoerdtiagindokwidns winotoulhdobwe witWhhthiloesepolragyaenrizatgieontss. and ayyesarimisfpaomrtialynta,dtvhiesiorrsroalreetahliws cblyieKnutsrtinOcvluedrheaTrdutl)li,owahnedreOhHiLs
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This season, another NTDP acetinotne:r TwyasSminilaanics,imthilear Qsuitinubonfuipttihahce casoelsmaosmocnoitm,demuseiswstieotdhinasjwugraritehasst, pwhoyuslidcalbetoaonlkiot.ppTohretucnoimtybifnoer shcimouttiongsctorumtmhuisnistytu. ff for the
NO LIFTING, BRO
Losing the combine robs previously injured prospects of the chance to confirm their restored health. noScoomwbhianteh?a“pTpeeanmssifthtahtehreavies done a little more work during the year will have a leg up,” said aotneeuNr HscLotuetainmg’.s“dWiree’lcltojursot fhaamveto go a little deeper in different directions. Some information we just won’t be able to get, like in officcoempphayrsiincgaltwesotinpgla.”yers
The same executive didn’t eboelciehvaetshwisitheapmlayweorus ltdo dsoubvsitditute for in-person meetings, but ihtawpipllebnes inotnecresttinhge toCsOeVeIwD-h1a9t NpaHnLdesmchicedusluebsisidcelsariafined. Fthoer mSteawkianrgt, shuere atnhdeirhisclifeinrmts are physically prepared for anytwhein’rge rpiguhttingows.om“Aes athninagsentcoygether,” he said. “We have some pwuetltli-nkgnowwonrkourettvirieddeos NtoHgLeethrsesor ftohresyocmaen owf othrke yoouut nagtehrokmides. tThhies sfaycts tahleosteabgouuyst Kwuarnt.tIto’s dalol about helping these kids reach their dreams.”
As for sending videos of workoutsartot NhHadL tneoamism, mStedwitahte NpHlaLns,doebsechauavse rsulcehs ventsuurrersouandinhge whiasntfsirmto mabaikde ssubrye whatever the league dicItnatetsh. e meantime, in this unfamiliar and yuenaprr, etcheedepnltaeydersdraarfet adcanondingtsoetvaeykryeteihnpifnogrsmhthaeerdpy. Nanodthipnagtiesnfcoer chearstaitno, be at a premium, but ewviellnbtueamllyadteheandpicthkes next generation of NHL stars owwilnl .h“Aavseditreaamssittios rciaglhlt tnhoewir, at some point we will have all “thTihsenbehwien’dll ussc,h”esdauidle aasdcorauftt. ancdomdbetinerem.” ine if we can have
TEAMS THAT HAVE DONE A LITTLE MORE WORK DURING THE YEAR HAVE A LEG UP
– NHL director of amateur scouting