Tod Button on Fan960

[Flames Draft Watcher]

-Good top end
-Lots of battles and discussion about the guys at the top end
-Lots of crossover scouting and viewings. Lots of guys rated close together at that top end. 4/5 might be the most important battle, they look at off ice, on ice to try and tiebreak
-Exciting to grab a top 4 player in the world
-Gonna get a top 6 player who contributes offensively, or pillar defensemen who plays every situation for 12 years. All well rounded guys who can play in any situation
-Not a big adjustment between management groups. May make small adjustments to which criteria they prioritzie
-Weightings on criteria leads to the differences in scouting lists. Competitiveness may mean different things to different teams. Is it more important to get the skilled guy? Some teams value offensive d more than others, some like defensive d, etc.
-Button thinks teams would move up to take the defenseman (Ekblad). you wouldn't move up to #1 to take a forward that might be there at your spot. Close enough with the forwards, different types of centres
-Ekblad is a 10, 12, 15 year guy who will play every situation. Pillar, workhorse defenseman. Leader and competitor. Starts talking about winning our division and talks about not being able to get out of our division without having that workhorse defenseman.
-Sam Reinhart impresses because of his brain. Produced without a lot of help offensively
-Draisaitl is so smart, didn't have a lot of help.
-Bennett is an energetic kid who plays with grit and tenacity with a high level of skill who can skate. Doesn't quit
-Ritchie, Dal Colle, Nylander and Kapanen are top 6 wingers for Button. He lumped them all together when Pat asked about Ritchie.