Minor Hockey Talks - Hockey Forum

Guest wrote: ↑Sat Jan 28, 2023 6:47 pm The top players considered potential 1st or 2nd round picks are being contacted early so teams can get to know the family and player. They are less worried about that with late round picks as they likely won’t be playing for them anyway. Zoom call requests are always a good sign.

Teams inviting kids to games now too and showing off facilities.

The surveys are a bit generic, but Kitchener’s and Ottawa’s are quite different from the others we got. Wouldn’t read too much into it but both seem very focused on organizational culture, much more than the others (Barrie’s and Kingston’s are basically cut and paste). Of course, surveys aren’t necessarily reflective of the REAL organizational culture, but the teams that obviously took the time (and spent the $$) to create tailored surveys at least appear to be ahead of the mainstream curve.

Would be interesting for teams to speak to current and former teammates of prospects. Some of these kids look great on paper but in reality are crappy teammates who don’t listen to coaches.

Guest wrote: ↑Mon Feb 13, 2023 9:28 am Would be interesting for teams to speak to current and former teammates of prospects. Some of these kids look great on paper but in reality are crappy teammates who don’t listen to coaches.

These teams have a pretty good idea what they are getting with their top picks. They do their research and talk to current and former coaches. They also can get an idea from the zoom calls and in person/game meets.

They wont ask the kids what they think of their old team mate though, there would be too many jealous kids trash talking. Also could you imagine how excited a kid would be to get a call from an OHL team, only to find out they aren't interested in him just in his team mate? Would never work.

Some teams only talk to theor top pick or 2 or 3, because they dont always want the kod/parent to know whpntheyre taking.

For instance, imagine a kid top from Ottawa who Niagara wants to take, and they make it known to that family. The kid or parent might start the "im not going that far away from home to that team" fight.

Kitchener 1st rd pick got homesick and asked for a trade home this year.... A lot of weird stuff happens.... A lot of kids not even on a draft list get taken too...

A lot of teams dont even look at central scouting lists eother and do their own scouting....

So just relax, its not a cookie cutter process, thats the honest truth...