What Leads Up To An Event

Another idea was discussed in a baseball context but can be applied to a hockey environment. This scout described a specific play to articulate their point:

“There's a ball hit to the gap. Right? . . . An error in the outfield, dropping a ball. But he's left-handed. Right? He's running across his body into a gap, and as he reached – probably should have caught it, let's not sugar-coat it – it bounces out of his glove and [that’s and error but] I don't know if 8 out of 10 kids even get to the ball. It probably goes to the fence.” (Scout 11, Baseball).

The point that is trying to be articulated here, is that more than just mistakes need to be evaluated.?What led up to the mistake that is worth noting??Are other players capable to be in that position to even have the opportunity to make that mistake??In relation to hockey, if a player scores a goal, what led up to it? This is very important because it highlights that a scout should always be looking at the bigger picture. Scoring a goal in hockey is highly valuable, but scouts must take into consideration what events led up to it that influenced the goal. On the other side, this can also be said while making a mistake. What events led up to the mistake that resulted in that play being made? This echoes the sentiment made by an NHL scout, confirming that these types of mistakes have happened:

“I remember watching a player, a [nationality] player, ended up being a first-round draft pick years ago. And we were at a tournament and it was a really European tournament, a great tournament. And he was big skated well handled the puck, well, you know, he looked like everything you'd want in a player. The problem was is when the puck dropped, nothing ever happened. So, one game, nothing, two games nothing, third game, he comes out like in the second period, he does this unbelievable move, scores a goal, and the scouts are buzzing. Did you see that? Wow, that'll certainly get them in the first round. And I remember sitting with my partner, [NHL executive] and we just looked at each other we go, can you believe that one shift gets him into the first round? I mean, he was never even on our list. He was never on our list . . . just so you know, he never played [in the NHL].” (Scout 5, General Manager).

The importance of being comprehensive in scouting is highlighted with two brief examples of overvaluing individual events, both positive and negative performances.?From these interviews it is assumed that many scouts are comprehensive in their approach, but it is an important reminder that it goes both ways, especially when mistakes are made.

Next week, we discuss projecting, and how it applies in an organizational context but also how it affected me with Scout 11.