Kan Kal and Daniella Bruce are in a posted interview with Kris Draper where he discusses career stories, coming into scouting and management and an odd set of circumstances that led to him being ahead of the curve on seeing where today’s players were going to be in terms of fitness, skill and testing but a clear amount of surprise at just how far training has come for young players.
There’s almost no better way to start an online brawl than a blog about one of two things. Kris Draper in scouting or if Chris Osgood should be in the hall of fame. It is a guaranteed nightmare of escalation in the comments with percentages, graphs, philosophy and fandom. When I saw this video my heart sank, at first. I knew that just title will have some of you skip right to the comments without reading or watching the video with sarcasm, condescension and an appetite to fight anyone who disagrees. Then, the video turned out to be fairly entertaining. Some early takeaways:
Career wise, Draper talked about Scotty Bowman meeting with him after a game with Adirondack. Bowman asked, “how do you think you did?” Draper had scored three goals so he thought fairly well. The Bowman asked the question that is another hot potato, “how do you think you did in the faceoff circle?” Draper replied he thought he was fine. Bowman replied, “you went 19 for 22. Can you do that in the NHL?” “Absolutely” (what else would you say?). His January debut in 1994 with the Red Wings game and he never went back.
We have a healthy faction of how much faceoffs do or don’t matter discussions when it comes around. When Bowman asked the question, the stat (according to Draper) wasn’t tracked as much. It clearly mattered to Scotty. Detroit’s turn to a possession dominant team is well noted with the Russian 5, but the advent of backup goalies having to track faceoffs on a clip board likely came at the same time. I’d honestly never heard the story.
As for fitness, I’d begun hearing about Draper’s insane commitment around 2009. There’s a small area in Bay Harbor with some nice hotels and winter time sports. The Inn at Bay Harbor is amazing. That’s where my wife and I heard the first story. Apparently the Draper clan would go and Kris would just tear it up in the workout room. Then I was told by a fitness center/training facility manager years later that Draper would run their “gauntlet” 3 times for a workout (most people struggling to get through once). Draper talked about Chelios and the steam room TV and bike. Kris has one at home as well. Most who’ve tried that I’ve heard from say it’s a horrible pain to hit that bike in the sauna. Both of those guys still do as far as I know.
Draper’s conditioning and faceoff ability extended his career and saw the grind line center work his way up in games where a lead was being held in the final minutes with a D zone faceoff needed. His strength and conditioning are still impressive. But when asked about today’s prospect, it’s a different universe. They have equipment/monitors/dietitians and labs at their disposal and attempt feats of skill without hesitation. Of course Seider and Raymond are standouts in the scouting department but we’re starting to see development in the later round picks and guys like Kasper and Lombardi fighting for spots. The scouting “gig” is a never ending task. I’ve spoken to guys who had scouted for jr, for college and gotten input on what NHL scouts are like at their games. Tons of hockey watched all over the globe any more.
Well worth the watch, you guys can fight it out in the comments, but some interesting nuggets in there (including a malfunctioning fire alarm at LCA).
The Draft:
After last year’s draft, GMs had overwhelming support for a decentralized draft. Articles and rumors of tampering and team employees listening to other tables that led to decisions in moving up for coveted prospects came to a head after the opening of free agency. Contracts with near full detail were being reported before the noon bell, meaning negotiations had already happened. Tampering has been around as long as sport has, but it hit a massive crescendo.
After the vote I wrote and was essentially mocked for saying that prospects were going to lose out on the draft day experience. Early reports were suggesting a small auditorium for players and families with GMs potentially in suites on speaker phones. But, big deal right? You still go to the podium with the GM and get your jersey.
That may not be the case.. Gary Bettman’s decision to retire seemed sudden and now he’s verbalizing his displeasure with the GM vote. The format for this year may come down to a single auditorium with prospects and families/friends and Gary Bettman. That seems like the leanest scenario but a prospect could be walked up to the league GM, shake hands, and that’s your draft night. Day 2 is always a hurricane and for anyone who watched it seemed fairly clear that the year we chose Edvinsson where players were at home due to shutdown the first round likely happened enough in advance for hats to be fedexed to the draft picks. For pick one, maybe one and two you can argue but to FedEx a “spoiler” could easily lead to a problem.
So, for the grief given about the concern over the format (the few know who they are) you’re welcome. Changes are coming fast and furious with some possibilities so out there that they’re not worth posting. From function, revenues to (of course) broadcasting a massive wave of hits to sport and entertainment across the board is being debated daily. Once we’re out of the season and past where the Red Wings are playing, some of those details will come together nicely. There’s a shareholder call today that I need to go over for part of it.
Of course, leave your thoughts. From Draper to the draft. We’re heading to a brave new world with subtle shifts to AI enhanced and eventually provided content and commentary. It’s all wide open and there’s plenty to chew on!
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