what are pro and semi pro hockey scouts looking for in a player?

Answer 1

Scouts (and I was an NHL scout for long time) look for a lot of things, and it varies from player to player, position to position, and also on what your organization needs.

In goalies, scouts tend to look for mobile goalies with great flexibility, sharp reflexes, and a good glove hand. Goalies with size and good stickhandling skills are a plus.

Defencemen come in two types. The primary ability looked for in a defenceman is skating ability. In an 'offensive' type of defenceman, a good shot and good playmaking abilities are highly sought after, as well as an ability to read the opposition in order to quarterback the powerplay. In a 'defensive' type defencemen, the ability to play the man is important, size does come into play here, as well as the ability to know what the opposition forwards will do. A Ray Bourque will be scouted very differently than a Rod Langway.

Fowards are an even more complex group to scout. Three positions, and different roles complicate things. Hence the Kirk Maltbys and Mike Bossys of the world. More and more in the 'modern' NHL speed is essential. So, smooth skaters are highly sought after. Centres who can 'see' the ice are highly sought after. More and more size is becoming a factor. In 1977, Clark Gillies was considered huge. (only 4 players were taller than 6'3" at the time with Gilles Lupien being the tallest). Today, there are entire pages in the NHL GUide and Record Book player section where he would be smaller than average.

Work ethic and skills are always important.................we're not talking Denis Savard or Bobby Orr type skills (and if you can find those - great) but players who can stickhandle in crowds, block shots, accuracy of shot, passing the puck, hustling back to backcheck, etc are highly sought after to help teams fill out lines.

For example, Mike Bossy was drafted because of his shot, his stickhandling skills were subpar, and his playmaking skills weren't highly rated. We chose Doug Wilson that year instead. Bossy went on to win 4 Stanley Cups, Doug Wilson went on to win a Norris trophy...........everybody was happy.

In short, there is no clear cut criteria that scouts follow when looking at a player, in a lot of cases it is a gut feel. It is easy to be a dominant player in junior and wow scouts, but not everybody has what it takes to develop past that stage. The ability to mesh with your teammates, your coaches is something else that scouts have to look for.

Answer 2

I've been on both sides of the scouting process, and Bob is right, the five S's are the first thing a team looks at. They're easy to judge, and safe picks. I didn't rank very high in those categories, but I was persistent and sent letters and game video to a bunch of teams, and a few called me back. What I impressed teams with was the intensity, game intelligence, and coachability that helped make up for what I lacked in other areas, as well as my locker room presence - my ability to enhance team chemistry. When I got into the coaching arena, I definitely looked at physical tools, but I also watched for personality traits, work ethic, attitude towards other players, coaches and officials, and intelligence. You have to have players with size,skill, speed etc . . but you have to have players with these things as well, and if you come across a player with both - you have someone pretty special.

Answer 3

They look for how good u are (or how much goals u have in your career) also that look for teamwork. Mostly they look for how good u are.
If u are playing hockey where scouts watch u it is not always a good idea to do a unassisted goal like I said they also look for teamwork.

Answer 4

#1. Skating ability (agility AND speed).
#2. Ice vision and hockey smarts.
#3. Puck control, passing, and shooting ability.
#4. Defensive commitment. (Cherry-pickers beware!)
#5. Attitude and work ethic.
#6. Physicality (ability to take or dish out hits, overall strength).

Answer 5

There are hockey gamers below AHL that gets a commission on a sport by utilizing sport foundation. they many times have yet another activity and merely play for relaxing. i be attentive to a guy that gets approximately $one hundred greenbacks in step with sport. not a foul deal in case you do what you love. :-)

Answer 6

The five S's are referred to alot, Speed, Size, Skill.............but this will be a better read for you, entitled "Drafting 101"

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=8093