Every scout has their list. Saying it’s fluid would be an understatement.
Scouting lists and rankings are somewhat subjective and unique to the scouts preferences, lookfors and experience.
Everyone sees it differently.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion and viewpoint, but let’s talk about what goes into making the list or not making the list.
Clearly it’s about projecting, where is that player going to be in a few years, what attributes do they possess for them to be an effective player at the next level, but it all comes back to projecting, that’s the job every scout has to do.
This is the thing about projecting, realistically a players game can completely change in two short years, there’s many players right now that scouts are watching and evaluating that will have their games evolve. That’s exactly why some kids get left off of lists right now. They are still evolving. Of course there’s other reasons for that as well.
Collectively scouts are not trying to predict the evolutionary changes in players games, we are trying to project it. There’s no guarantees, but when scouts see a skilled player that has one or two foundational assets they have to zero in and drill down on that player no matter what.
That’s why peripheral scouting viewpoints and quick dismissals shouldn’t be a part of the process only if the player or players exhibit character or attitude issues, ie poor body language or lack of discipline.
I’ve said it all year that the draft rankings are extremely subjective.
The vetting process is different for every organization and scouts shouldn’t leave any rock unturned so to speak during that process.
It’s relatively easy to dismiss what we see now or what level the player is performing at currently, but let’s try to project where that kid will be in two or three years. That’s the most challenging aspect of all, but that’s the job.
Ok so you’re wondering who the Top 5 Prospects that no one is talking about are?
I’m not going to tell you that at all.
I’m not going name names, because they are flying under the radar and let me tell you this that’s exactly where some organizations want them to be.
I will tell you some reasons for that:
Where do they play? How do they play? Are they getting a fair shake playing time wise? Are they being played out of position? Who are they playing with? Are they being buried or showcased? What intangibles do they possess? What’s their attitude like? What type of teammate are they? Do they play the right way?
That’s why lists and rankings are fluid, but it’s the time of year where some organizations start refining their lists, but all those questions above are part of the evaluation that goes into ranking players.
Do they have skill?
Can they skate and think the game and do they compete?
Those three questions are the separators in my book!
Now is not the time for quick peripheral scratch the surface lists and rankings. Now is the time to drill down on players, now is the time to zero in on the players that have tons of potential that no one else sees or appreciates.
To be honest I would love to write an article on the Top 5 Prospects that no one appreciates or sees right now, but that’s not going to happen because they are extremely valuable even if others don’t think so.
Every scout sees it differently. Every scout has their list, who is on that list or off of that list is their business.
See you at the rink,
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