[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Tod Button - Calgary Flames Director of Amateur Scouting
QR770 June 8

interviewed around 90 players - felt it was prudent to interview as many as possible with so many picks this year


use the physical testing results as a baseline for the player - want to know where weakness and inequalities are
the biggest interview is on the ice
don't want to evaluate or drop guys because of a fitness test
some of them still have room to grow - still teenae boys
you sometimes drool thinking what a player like Sam Bennett can do if he was 10-15 lbs heavier and faster
obviously some kids are further along than others - but for us it is just an eyeball test

did not interview Connor McDavid but would be very happy to take him if he falls to 15

had 7 Flames staff in the interview - 3 full time scouts (Jim Cummings, Rob Sumner, Fred Parker), himself, Treliving and Conroy
Chris Snow was also there documenting and askin some questions
usually the player has already been interviewed by the area scout before the combine
you get 15 minutes with the kid at the combine, so the area scouts need to have done their due dilligence beforehand so they don't miss anything
combine interview is more of a get together for Craig and Brad so they can put a face to a name

Brad spent a lot of time talking to other GMs to see what is out there (trade wise)
jokes that he spends a lot of time trying spread misinformation to throw people off course

3 picks in the 2nd and 2 picks in the 3rd is very exciting for the scouts
when we put our lists together we can stratagize with mutliple picks
thinks it is very deep draft - another reason he loves having multiple 2nds
you can take a little more of a gamble with multiple picks - take a higher risk player
3 2nds and 2 3rds will let them be agressive not only in trading up, but in swinging for the fences as well

jokes he provides his brother with Craig's list


Button is asked about his opinion on Merkley:
Merkley is a good player
moved over from C to RW - seemed to do it seamlessly
versatility is always important - only 2 or 3 centers that can be offensive players and sometimes need to move over to wing
had a good year
have heard people say Draisaitl helped him out alot, but in our early viewings before Draisaitl was traded there, he was productive
nice to see a Calgary kid up there in the draft


Flames amateur scouting staff prefers that they make their list without any knowledge of what Treliving might be doing (tradewise)
that helps in their prepardness - don't want to overthink things by thinking about a potential trade up or down

when they do look at trading up or down, they don't think of it as numbers like trading two 2nds for #25. they think of it as names, you may have a box of 5 players and you are trading 2 of those names for one guy

Brad does his work, and as we get closer to the draft he will bring us scenarios


for sure in the first 3 rounds we are doing BPA (well maybe not the 3rd round)
depending on how we use the first 4 or 5 picks we may do something positionally
out list is based on BPA - that is how we have done it the last few years and in his humble opinion has been very succesful that way


Smith and Kanzig are examples of guys who today might not have all the skills and measurables but physical gifts can't be overlooked
both kids have improved imensley over the last 2 years
once Smith has his strength and feet under him we think he will have a good NHL career. just needs to get his feet going
the trade to the Hitmen for Keegan was beneficial for him, was able to get our group to help and critique him
both have a chance to go pro next year


texter asks Button how is this draft deep?
it is deep with skill
lots of top 6 forwards and top 3-4 defencemen
plethora of forwards and lots of defencemen - would say forward group is deeper than defence group
although the top 4 or 5 defencemen in this draft are very good too
its in the skill positions - in the forwards - in the offence - that is where the depth of the draft is

It's interesting that Button sees the depth of the draft in the forwards. Perhaps a clue to Flames drafting strategy?