This is a realy good post. Scouting is far more sophisticated than the average hockey fan is able to comprehend. So, for example, if a young player has one great tournament, game, shift or play, a scout evaluates the probability of being able to bring the kid up to being able to consistently perform at that level.

If a prospect has poor fitness, a scout tries to project what his performance level could be if he had a pro level fitness regime.

Brady Tkachuk is a perfect example of how a scout sees things vs the average fan. As a fan, I looked at Tkachuk and saw a big, raw, awkward skater. Scouts looked at him and saw how his game translated out at the pro level. Scouts were entirely confident he would be a pro player. Most Sens fans, including me, said "meh."

Nobody was that happy with the selection of Pinto. So many slick players were still on the board behind him. What is it that the scouts saw that I did not?
- spatso

Well apparently Karlsson's draft ranking was affected by a world junior tournament that was played after he was drafted, so I guess some scouts have a time machine.

Generally, scouts are scouts for a reason and we are sitting behind a computer monitor for a reason. Scouts get to see more than we do and can actually talk to the players, etc.

However, I'll always remember the Penguins taking Angelo Esposito for some reason in 2007 where loads of fans and scouts knew he would be pretty much a bust, but they took him anyway.

I'm all for giving scouts credit where it is due, but I do think scouts should be nailed if they miss on a guy(s).

Stutzle named to Germanys WJC roster (as we knew he would)

Curious to see where he plays this year, assuming there is a season.

Stutzle named to Germanys WJC roster (as we knew he would)

Curious to see where he plays this year, assuming there is a season.
- david22

Stutzle, Sanderson, Greig, Juventie, Kleven....anyone else?

Nobody was that happy with the selection of Pinto. So many slick players were still on the board behind him. What is it that the scouts saw that I did not?
- spatso

Scouting is as much philosophy as it is science, and teams definitely have different priorities when it comes to assessing talent. Selecting Pinto at #32 last year was very similar to taking Jarventie at #33 this year... leaving players on the board who fell out of the 1st round (for various perceived reasons), and instead targeting playes with very projectable physical tools, with a high degree of unrealized potential. Some people are frustrated by this, because they see a missed opportunity at a "consensus" first round player (eg. Kaliyev, Brink, Peterka). But the scouting team may look at the same situation, and see players who are basically at the peak of their ability/development, with significant concerns about their ability to transition effectively to the professional game.

At the end of the day, it's all a gamble. Some scouts will roll the dice on the skills they see on display right now (i.e. skating, strength), some scouts are more swayed by actual productive output (i.e. points, wins), and some scouts will roll the dice on untapped potential they believe can be developed with professional-level coaching (i.e. late-bloomers, young draft-age). Now, teams don't just blindly adhere to one approach, but the Senators have definitely shown a tendency for unrealized potential with many of their high-end picks in recent drafts.

So when you say what did you not see in Pinto, it was things like:
- was already 6'2/180, a natural C, with a RH shot (he's now listed at 6'3/194)
- got into hockey at a relatively late age, but progressed quickly through development leagues
- already a very good skater, who plays with tenacity, and has emerging skill
- put up a PPG season with nearly 30G as a USHL rookie, playing on 2 different teams
- solid development trajectory ahead with the University of North Dakota

And if by comparison you regard players like Kaliyev/Brink as guys with limited physical tools, skating concerns, and potentially tapped out skill development who may prove to be more effective in the CHL/NCAA than in the NHL, then you maybe come to the same conclusion about selecting Pinto at #32.

Stutzle, Sanderson, Greig, Juventie, Kleven....anyone else?
- spatso

Greig is interesting. Certainly not as skilled as many if the guys there, but seems like the type team canada likes to put on their bottom 6/ 4th line.

Scouting is as much philosophy as it is science, and teams definitely have different priorities when it comes to assessing talent. Selecting Pinto at #32 last year was very similar to taking Jarventie at #33 this year... leaving players on the board who fell out of the 1st round (for various perceived reasons), and instead targeting playes with very projectable physical tools, with a high degree of unrealized potential. Some people are frustrated by this, because they see a missed opportunity at a "consensus" first round player (eg. Kaliyev, Brink, Peterka). But the scouting team may look at the same situation, and see players who are basically at the peak of their ability/development, with significant concerns about their ability to transition effectively to the professional game.

At the end of the day, it's all a gamble. Some scouts will roll the dice on the skills they see on display right now (i.e. skating, strength), some scouts are more swayed by actual productive output (i.e. points, wins), and some scouts will roll the dice on untapped potential they believe can be developed with professional-level coaching (i.e. late-bloomers, young draft-age). Now, teams don't just blindly adhere to one approach, but the Senators have definitely shown a tendency for unrealized potential with many of their high-end picks in recent drafts.

So when you say what did you not see in Pinto, it was things like:
- was already 6'2/180, a natural C, with a RH shot (he's now listed at 6'3/194)
- got into hockey at a relatively late age, but progressed quickly through development leagues
- already a very good skater, who plays with tenacity, and has emerging skill
- put up a PPG season with nearly 30G as a USHL rookie, playing on 2 different teams
- solid development trajectory ahead with the University of North Dakota

And if by comparison you regard players like Kaliyev/Brink as guys with limited physical tools, skating concerns, and potentially tapped out skill development who may prove to be more effective in the CHL/NCAA than in the NHL, then you maybe come to the same conclusion about selecting Pinto at #32.
- khawk

A++