#TrackingTheDraft with @CraigJButton

In Time Machine on Tracking the Draft, former NHL GM and current Director of Scouting for TSN Craig Button tells a story regarding a past player and the NHL Draft while relating it to a player in this year's draft prospect pool. They could be Top 40 or beyond on the Craig's List. 

We were honoured to have the Head European Scout for Dobber Prospects, Jokke Nevalainen join us this week. Craig went back to 2012 when Esa Lindell was taken by the Dallas Stars and compared him to Joni Jurmo a fellow Finnish defenceman. Jokke and Craig debated the comparison and we went forward in time to look at Aatu Raty, who might end up being the first Finnish player taken first overall!

Craig joins us each week courtesy of the UFFS Hotline, become a scout and track the same players Craig and other scouts do, join up at www.UFFSports.com and get paid for your eagle eye when it comes to future stars. Catch past episodes and individual players at www.TrackingTheDraft.ca. 

In The Next Wave on Tracking the Draft, former NHL GM and current Director of Scouting for TSN, Craig Button and Dean Millard discuss players ranked outside of the top 40 on Craig's List, who are projected to go after the first round, where great players, superstars and Hall of Fame players have been taken. This week we were honoured to have Jokke Nevalainen, the Head European Scout for Dobber Prospects join us. 

Topi Niemela is a smaller blueliner who's very presence in the Liiga surprised and impressed many this year. He's a puck mover, but might not put up massive points in the NHL, however he also played a smaller defensive role this year. 

Kasper Simontaival is also a smaller player, but the forward has dynamic skill and when he starts weaving up the ice you can't help but be excited. He's also a player who has worked on his overall game and was awarded with some PK time this past season.  

Craig joins us each week courtesy of the UFFS Hotline, become a scout and track the same players Craig and other scouts do, join up at www.UFFSports.com and get paid for your eagle eye when it comes to future stars. Catch past episodes and individual players at www.TrackingTheDraft.ca. 

In Top Shelf Talent on Tracking the Draft, former NHL GM and current Director of Scouting for TSN, Craig Button and Dean Millard discuss players who are projected to go in the first round, choosing from the Top 40 on the Craig's List.

The Head of European scouting for Dobber Prospects Jokke Nevalainen joined us this week as we discussed Anton Lundell. A 'safe' pick who wore a letter for HIFK in the Liiga this year and might have more offence than some think? Both Craig and Jokke had interesting comparisons for him at the next level. 

 
Craig joins us each week courtesy of the UFFS Hotline, become a scout and track the same players Craig and other scouts do, join up at www.UFFSports.com and get paid for your eagle eye when it comes to future stars. Catch past episodes and individual players at www.TrackingTheDraft.ca. 

It was so much fun to welcome in Jokke Nevalainen, the Head European Scout for Dobber Prospects to the show this week. Craig Button and Dean Millard had a chance to hear a different perspective on players. We focused on players from Finland for obvious reasons and started with Anton Lundell in Top Shelf Talent who is ranked 16th on the Craig's List. Is he the safe pick in this year's draft? Does he have more offence than what he has shown? In the Next Wave we started with the 46th ranked player on the Craig's List. Topi Niemela is small blueliner who surprised a lot of people by sticking in The Liiga. He's a puck distributor who had to play a more defensive role and both Craig and Jokke had interesting and different comparisons for him. Ranked 51st on the Craig's List is Kasper Simontaival has dynamic skills who worked on his all around game quite a bit this year and he could be a guy that leaves fans wondering how he slipped out of the first round, if a team doesn't step up and take him earlier. In Time Machine Craig took us back just a few years to compare Joni Jurmo a Finnish blue liner to his countryman drafted in 2012 Esa Lindell. Does Jokke see the same thing? We also went forward in time to examine Aatu Raty a little closer.

It was a really fun show and something we'll do again with other scouts. Email me [email protected] with suggestions. Craig joins us each week courtesy of the UFFS Hotline, become a scout and track the same players Craig and other scouts do, join up at www.UFFSports.com and get paid for your eagle eye when it comes to future stars. Catch past episodes and individual players at www.TrackingTheDraft.ca. 

Craig Button and Dean Millard were joined by Head European Scout for Dobber Prospects Jokke Nevalainen who gave us a different perspective on a few players. Here's a sneak peak at the episode where we discussed Anton Lundell, Topi Niemela, Kasper Simontaival, Joni Jurmo and Aatu Raty. 

Enjoy this preview with the full episode out Thursday August 27th. 

In Time Machine on Tracking the Draft, former NHL GM and current Director of Scouting for TSN Craig Button tells a story regarding a past player and the NHL Draft while relating it to a player in this year's draft prospect pool. They could be Top 40 or beyond on the Craig's List. 

 
Lukas Cormier skates for the Charlottetown Islanders and skates well. He joins the play offensively and almost becomes like a 4th forward or a rover. He's not the biggest guy but either was Torey Krug who actually went undrafted and has scored double digit goals three times in his NHL career. 

Meanwhile we skipped ahead in time to take a peak at former first overall WHL bantam pick Dylan Guenther. The Edmonton Oil King forward will challenge for the top player out the west and make his way into the top three overall conversation next year. 

Craig joins us each week courtesy of the UFFS Hotline, become a scout and track the same players Craig and other scouts do, join up at www.UFFSports.com and get paid for your eagle eye when it comes to future stars. Catch past episodes and individual players at www.TrackingTheDraft.ca.

In The Next Wave on Tracking the Draft, former NHL GM and current Director of Scouting for TSN, Craig Button and Dean Millard discuss players ranked outside of the top 40 on Craig's List, who are projected to go after the first round, where great players, superstars and Hall of Fame players have been taken.

Drew Commesso had elite numbers in net for the USNDT against teams in the USHL and from the start of the season until things were shut down he continued to improve, not just his numbers but his fundamentals in the crease. He also has some options for his future as he's slated to attend Boston University where he will be afforded the time he needs to develop, and if he changes his mind the Quebec Remparts hold his QMJHL rights and can boast one of the greatest goalies of all time as their Head Coach and GM.

Alexander Pashin is a small speedy skilled forward who could go on to great things, if he makes better decisions. If the happens he could be a home run as he plays on the edge and his edge work and hands are dynamic. 

Craig joins us each week courtesy of the UFFS Hotline, become a scout and track the same players Craig and other scouts do, join up at www.UFFSports.com and get paid for your eagle eye when it comes to future stars. Catch past episodes and individual players at www.TrackingTheDraft.ca.

In Top Shelf Talent on Tracking the Draft, former NHL GM and current Director of Scouting for TSN, Craig Button and Dean Millard discuss players who are projected to go in the first round, choosing from the Top 40 on the Craig's List. Quinton Byfield is the 3rd ranked player on the list and Craig described how big or small the gap is between Byfield and Stutzle. He also cautioned strongly against judging Byfield foley on his World Junior Championship tournament as you will be 'making a big mistake'. Byfield has man size and is very strong, tough to handle when standing still and even tougher when he gets a head of steam going. We also paid tribute to another Top Shelf Talent from the early 80s as Dale Hawerchuk lost his battle with cancer this week, a more humble superstar might be hard to find. 

Craig joins us each week courtesy of the UFFS Hotline, become a scout and track the same players Craig and other scouts do, join up at www.UFFSports.com and get paid for your eagle eye when it comes to future stars. Catch past episodes and individual players at www.TrackingTheDraft.ca.

Before Craig Button and Dean Millard dove into this week's Top Shelf Talent, they paid tribute to the Top Dog of the 1981 NHL Draft Dale Hawerchuk who passed away this week. A more humble super star there might not ever have been. As for the 2020 Top Shelf Talent, it's Quinton Byfield of the Sudbury Wolves who is ranked 3rd on the Craig's List. How big is the gap between Byfield and Stutzle according to Craig? Also what impact should one tournament have on a player and what are the first few strides like for the power centre? In the Next Wave it's a goalie from the U.S.A Hockey in Drew Commesso. He had elite numbers in the USHL and is ranked 75 on the Craig's List. He is heading to Boston University and is also a draft pick of the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL where Patrick Roy does just about everything. Alexander Pashin is a RW who plays for UFA and while he lacks size at 5.07 and 154 pounds he plays with a bit of an edge and uses his edges on his blades really well. Ranked 47 on Craig's List, once his decision making matches up with his hands and feet he could be a home run for any team that takes him in the 2nd round. In Time Machine Craig went to an undrafted player currently with the Boston Bruins who has scored double digits from the blue line three times and compared him to Lukas Cormier of Charlottetown of the QMJHL while taking a peak at 2021 in the form of Edmonton Oil King forward and WHL Rookie of the Year, Dylan Guenther. Our trivia was about the Sudbury Wolves and player movement as well as why the QMJHL is starting their season so early was discussed in news and notes.

Craig joins us each week courtesy of the UFFS Hotline, become a scout and track the same players Craig and other scouts do, join up at www.UFFSports.com and get paid for your eagle eye when it comes to future stars. Catch past episodes and individual players at www.TrackingTheDraft.ca.

In Time Machine Craig is looking at a two time Stanley Cup champion who was a second round pick 9 years ago with a sharp shooting left winger from Finland. TSN's Director of Scouting sees some of Brandon Saad in Roby Jarventie when it comes to dependability and the ability to play with really skilled players. As for the 2021 look ahead we discussed defenceman Owen Power which produced a comparison to former Hart and Norris Trophy winner Chris Pronger. Power could challenge Aatu Raty for the top pick next year. 

Craig joins us each week courtesy of the UFFS Hotline, become a scout and track the same players Craig and other scouts do, join up at www.UFFSports.com and get paid for your eagle eye when it comes to future stars. Catch past episodes and individual players at www.TrackingTheDraft.ca.