Chiefs list character, grit as top ingredients
In preparation for his first draft as Spokane Chiefs director of scouting and player personnel, Chris Moulton has a board prepared that Mel Kiper Jr. would envy.
Moulton’s list goes 10 rounds deep. He’s had phone interviews with 70-80 of the top players, along with many of their family members, coaches and teammates. Oh, and he’s driven thousands of miles over the past few months chasing every possible prospect across western Canada through their teams’ year-end tournaments.
Today, along with general manager Tim Speltz and the Chiefs scouting staff, Moulton will get a once-in-a-franchise chance to pick from the cream of the crop of 1991-age players.
That’s because Spokane won a lottery for the first pick in the Western Hockey League bantam draft, which begins this morning in Calgary, Alberta.
It’s the first time in the Chiefs’ history they will pick from that position – and it’s a somewhat dubious honor.
“We have many needs – we finished last,” Moulton said Tuesday. “When you have the year we’ve had, there are many areas we can improve on. We have some good young guys. I think we need size up front, scoring up front, but we’ll need to see.”
Moulton said the Chiefs have their choice narrowed down to three possible prospects and will continue to consult as a group. They will also listen to trade offers, which inevitably come to teams that hold the No. 1 position. He made clear, however, that the team isn’t actively shopping the pick.
Yet it won’t be an easy choice.
Defenseman Jared Cowen is rated by the draft experts as the top prospect, but has expressed a desire to play close to his hometown of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and not in the United States.
Further complicating the choice is that there are plenty of talented scorers available at the top of the draft, including the son of NHL great Ray Ferraro, but they are all rated behind Cowen.
“We’re going to select the best available player, regardless of position,” said Moulton.
The team will also try to get a player who will show the intangibles off the ice that can help turn around a culture of losing.
“There’s no question some kids are better leaders than others,” said Moulton. “We’ve identified guys for character and grit and want to bring that type of element to the locker room. We want to also bring in some leadership. You can never go wrong with character.”
Yet, no matter what pick a team holds, there are no sure things in projecting the potential of 14- and 15-year-olds. All of the players drafted today will have to wait a year before they are eligible to play in the WHL after a year of midget-level hockey.
“The only way you find out (about a player) is when you get them in the lineup,” said Moulton. “You’re hoping these guys will play in two years. Out of the 10 kids you pick, if four or five play, you’re laughing.”