One of the NHL’s most notable and studious writers provided a detailed look into how players should be evaluated by coaches and management at TCS Live 2024 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Scott Wheeler is a strong advocate of the idea that every coach should spend time in player evaluations and scouting, just as every scout should spend time in a coaching role. The goal of scouting is to paint a picture of what a player will look like based on the qualities and traits they possess and how they can use those at the next level. A common mistake made in the scouting world is getting hung up on just what a player looks like. For coaches, the size of a player or how fast they are matters only in the context of what they accomplish on the ice.

One player who puts that hypothesis to the test is Logan Stankoven of the Dallas Stars. Stankoven is a small player based on NHL averages. The 47th pick of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft was passed on by many because scouts couldn’t get past Stankoven’s 5-foot-8 stature. Yet in his first professional season, the 21-year-old put up an impressive 14 points in 24 games when called up from the American Hockey League; he became a big part of the Stars’ Western Conference Final run. On the opposite side of the spectrum, Wheeler highlighted another Stars player: Jason Roberston. The 6-foot-3 forward fell to the Stars at pick 39th in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft because many didn’t believe he played the right way for his stature. Robertson is now viewed as one the NHL’s brightest players and as an elite goal scorer in Dallas. 

Wheeler harps on the idea that player types are changing constantly and all players are unique in their capabilities. An area Wheeler encourages coaches and scouts to get away from is suggesting player comparisons. There is only one Patrick Kane and one Connor McDavid. Making player comparisons is setting up young players for failure in their expectations. Wheeler sees that the NHL game is getting younger and players at the age of 20, 21, 22 are more ready to step in and have an impact while still on their entry level contract. An additional area Wheeler believes in is accurately describing young prospects. Using hockey jargon is not a proper way to evaluate a player. A stay-at-home defenceman can mean a steady player in front of their net or a D-man that is effective at clearing the puck out of the zone. 

For scouts, managers, and coaches, it’s valuable to be specific and dive into the nitty gritty of what a player is made of and what their potential can be at the next level. Investing in young players is key and being specific in their evaluations will best predict a player's success.

Noteworthy Timestamps:

• 0:55 Introduction
• 2:10 Rules to live by
• 4:30 Hockey’s jargon
• 6:40 Player comparable and ‘types’
• 9:10 Case studies - Evan Bouchard
• 10:55 Case studies - Brandt Clarke
• 12:40 Case studies - Logan Stankoven
• 13:50 Case studies - Jason Robertson
• 14:55 Let’s break it down