Tod Button on the 2024 draft

[Canada 02]

“I’ll be honest with you, at the start of the year I was concerned with how deep the draft was,” Button admitted. “But, as usually happens, as the year goes on guys emerge that you may not have known about or they develop a little later.

“You always know who the top guys are. We added a Russian scout, which we didn’t have. We relied a lot on European scouts or InStat video, but we added Denis Grebeshkov this year and he’s been tremendous for us and now we have a way more extensive list. We know more Russian players than I’d say we would have in the past.”

https://calgaryherald.com/sports/hoc...on-scouts-busy

https://twitter.com/user/status/1773080120762212405

[Toonage]

Increased interest in Russian players? Nope. Didn't notice.

[Jason14h]

How can a team only have 1 Russian scout ? ( previously none )

The ROI on scouting feels like it should be massive .

Don’t use the cap room and sign more scouts for the next few years

[Canada 02]

Good for Craig to add a Russian scout; crazy that the previous regime did not have a scout devoted to a top 3 hockey nation?

[Ba'alzamon]

Denis Grebeshkov. Now there's a name I never thought I'd hear again.

[Reggie Dunlop]

In Russia, EVERYBODY a scout!

[fotze2]

That Instat thing he mention is nuts, no idea how it works. My bantam kid gets an instat report an hour or two after every game where you get corsi and a bunch of advanced stats.

Better, they have parsed clips of every shift, goal, shot, assist, penalty separated out.

Scouts have access to it. I didn't think the big leagues used it.

I've heard it actually goes to a Russian outfit that breaks down the game, not sure though.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Increased interest in Russian players? Nope. Didn't notice.

Now that you mention it tho....

Those Russian Babushkas whose asses we kicked during the Wannamaker glory have turned their attention to Hockey stats!

Sneaky...F'n...Russians!!

[Locke]

We shall Plunder Mother Russia of her Hockey Glory!!!

Mwahahahaha!!!!

[dammage79]

I appreciate they're looking into Russia more. There's a ton of talent there being overlooked because of geopolitics.

I wonder if Artamonov is a target with the Vancouver pick then

[Number 39]

Shocking (if I read that correctly) that they didn't have a single scout in Russia before now. Just ignoring a huge number of potential players. They spend to the cap but skimp on their scouting staff? Not all that shocked honestly when I think about it.

On a side note it looks like Loob is no longer part of the scouting organization (I believe he disappeared from the website a few years ago). Does anyone know what happened there or did he just retire?

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Number 39

Shocking (if I read that correctly) that they didn't have a single scout in Russia before now. Just ignoring a huge number of potential players. They spend to the cap but skimp on their scouting staff? Not all that shocked honestly when I think about it.

On a side note it looks like Loob is no longer part of the scouting organization (I believe he disappeared from the website a few years ago). Does anyone know what happened there or did he just retire?

They had Igor Kravchuk or Sergei Krivokrasov scouting Russia for them if I recall in the pre Feaster or Feaster era. No, pre Feaster.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I appreciate they're looking into Russia more. There's a ton of talent there being overlooked because of geopolitics.

I wonder if Artamonov is a target with the Vancouver pick then

Good call, I wouldn’t mind that. Yegor Surin might be another option. My mind just doesn’t go to Russian players as possible draft picks for us. Guess that will change.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Good call, I wouldn’t mind that. Yegor Surin might be another option. My mind just doesn’t go to Russian players as possible draft picks for us. Guess that will change.

I like what Surin has but he reads like Adam Ruzicka. Supreme skkill but just wildly inconsistent. Maybe the 2nd rounder.

I know it won't happen but imagine the Canucks lose in Rd 1. We get a real shot at Chernyshov. Oof.

[Sandman]

I bet we take a swing at Andrei Krutov with one of our later picks. He’s a winger in the MHL that has polarized scouts, but has put up points. Many say he’s a product of his linemates, and can’t create offense on his own without high-end players to feed him, and do the heavy lifting.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I like what Surin has but he reads like Adam Ruzicka. Supreme skkill but just wildly inconsistent. Maybe the 2nd rounder.

I know it won't happen but imagine the Canucks lose in Rd 1. We get a real shot at Chernyshov. Oof.

I would take that!

[activeStick]

Yup, totally for the refocus on Russian kids to add to the system!

[Dion]

[TheScorpion]

It's great that they're looking more at Russians. Never understood why they never really considered that region under previous management groups. So many skilled players over there.

[GioforPM]

They should draft Putin. I saw him get 8 goals in a game with some pretty good players against him.