USA Junior Hockey Magazine – September 23, 2005

NHL rule changes won’t affect scouts’ ways

Much has been made of the new rule changes that will surface in the NHL this season, but they will not affect the way we scout.  Our philosophy has always been “take the best player/performer available.”

We go through the process of evaluating talent over the year, have a staff meeting and put together our final list.  That list is subject to change as draft week approaches and we have more discussion on the individual players or if the chief scout and/or general manager like someone better than the staff.

We do not draft for position unless there is more than one impact player available when we are selecting.  These are sure-bet players who will probably make the big club quicker than most players drafted.  It doesn't make sense to draft for position because our needs at the time will not be our needs four years later. 

It’s easy to spot a player; it’s much tougher to find a real person.  The combination of talent, foundation of the person and their bottom-line qualities dictate success levels.

It’s disheartening to see the number of high picks who fail to maximize their potential.  The numbers are glaring and it opens the door for the lower-round picks and players who go through the draft and become free agents. Much of this has to do with nurturing players at a young age and each player's intangibles.

It’s been proven that people who dare to dream and raise their aspirations to the highest levels have higher productivity levels.  They develop a passion for preparation and they have the courage to execute.

An amateur scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Chuck Grillo also own and operate the highly-regarded Minnesota Hockey Camps with wife, Clairene, and  sons, Dino (Indiana Ice) and Roby (San Jose Sharks).  For more information on the camps, visit www.mnhockeycamps.com or e-mail chuck@mnhockeycamps.com