Canucks: What NHL teams are looking for during pre-draft interviews

Show up and speak with confidence.

That was the directive when the Vancouver Canucks’ new hockey operations met with scouting staff before the 2022 NHL Draft. In a series of meetings, I was responsible for selling myself and my vision for the selection priorities. It wasn’t the time to be sweet talk.

Rian Johnson was present at those meetings.

As senior director of player development, assistant to general manager Patrick Alvin and general manager of Abbotsford’s AHL affiliate, he’s witnessed a productive and thorny pre-draft process: give and take.

“You have to be able to have an opinion, right or wrong. It’s not wrong to predict and predict what will happen to men in the future,” Johnson told the Postmedia. “It has to be based on research, not speculation. Do your job with conviction. Don’t sit on the fence.”

Based on what they gleaned from these sessions, interviews with draft-combine candidates, and follow-up visits to ensure they have the right talent and players, the Canucks leadership team is 15th overall with winger Jonathan Lekkelimaki. , selected defenseman Elias Petterson with the 80th pick in the third round.

They proved to be a wise choice.

Lekkerimäki overcame mononucleosis and a concussion to score playoff points in what looked like a lost season in the Swedish Second Division Allsvenskan Pro League with 15 goals in 15 games (5-10). He was ranked number one in the state’s evaluation of the top 10 franchise candidates.

As a rookie in the Swedish Hockey League, Pettersson showed good pace, hit hard and looked comfortable against the men. He was ranked 4th in state polls.

This year, the song remained the same ahead of the draft combine in Buffalo, which ends Saturday. Further evaluation of the 106 prospects included physical examination and mental make-up questions.

“For me, the most important thing is that we want our scouts to have a passion for players who have a chance to be drafted,” Canucks director of amateur scouting Todd Harvey said. “We want to make sure we’re doing due diligence. People have different opinions.”

Trying to assess the prospect’s will is just as important as demonstrating obvious skills.

An annual draft compound interview ritual is required to ensure that we get the right players and people. It can be calm or wild, depending on the team and players. This helped the Canucks acquire future captain Bo Horvat, winger Brock Voser and star center Elias Petterson.

How a player deals with NHL successes, failures, injuries, team dynamics, travel schedules, and family issues determines character. The answer is either to solidify your belief in your prospect or to scare your team.

Former Canucks general manager Jim Benning told the Post Media about his favorite question.

“One of the questions I like to ask is, ‘If I go to my teammates and ask them what type of person they are, what would they say?'” Then they have to think. As we can ask our teammates, they can’t say things that aren’t true.

“If your kid is too cocky or too self-sufficient and if there is another player you like better with a better personality to interact better in a team environment then you take him. .”

Prospects range from mundane to cryptic questions.

The Canucks ranked Kale Makar highly on their 2017 draft radar. Not only did they interview the polite, soft-spoken Blueliner at the Draft Combine, they also took him to dinner that day.

Needless to say, they were impressed. The Calgary native said in his pre-draft post-media interview: I had to work for all I got and I’m not a guy who likes to talk about himself. Of course, I have to give credit to my teammates and all the coaches I’ve worked with. ”

No wonder the defensive Colorado Avalanche selected Makar 4th overall. Petterson sounded the same, but he moved to the Canucks for the next pick.

However, not all interviews go smoothly.

At the 2016 Draft Combine, Kelowna Rockets defenseman Lukas Johansen was interviewed by 27 teams and was selected 28th overall by the Washington Capitals. The Vancouver native said in an interview: “I don’t remember which team it was, but it kind of made me laugh,” he recalled of the question. Are you Kelowna’s Coach Killer? ’ Johansen replied with a laugh. “I hope that doesn’t happen.”

“They try to get in your head and confuse you. The Canucks interview went really well. was interesting.

“Too easy and they might think you don’t care.

At the 2010 Draft Combine, Prince George Cougars winger Brett Connolly gave a dazzling interview before being drafted sixth overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“Of course, you have to think quickly and answer honestly,” the Campbell River native told the Postmedia. “There have been questions about whether it’s better to read gentle poetry or shoot guns.

“I told him to shoot a gun. I don’t know why. I was nervous and wanted something out.”