NHL scout to share top tips at the Hockey Conference
Author: Communications
Posted on Jun 9, 2016
Category: UNB Fredericton
Pittsburgh Penguins scout Luc Gauthier knows the business. He played professional hockey for a decade in the Montreal Canadiens organization, before stepping off the ice to coach. For the past 18 years, he’s watched the game from the stands, making notes and evaluating players.
On July 7, Mr. Gauthier will be at UNB Fredericton to share his scouting secrets with the Hockey Conference.
“There are four points when you evaluate the player,” he said. “You evaluate their hockey sense, their level of competition, their skating, and their character. Those are very important points.”
Mr. Gauthier played for the Fredericton Canadiens for three years and was an assistant coach with the team for four.
He first became a scout with the Nashville Predators in 1997. Seven years later he was scouting for the Colorado Avalanche. In 2008, he settled into his current role as scout for the Penguins.
In his nearly two decades in the biz, he’s seen a lot of players come up through the league. It’s easy for the big names to roll off the tongue
“Obviously Sidney Crosby is the biggest one,” he said. “I was with the Avalanche, but he was the best then. It was pretty easy.”
However, Mr. Gauthier was involved with the first pick Nashville ever made in 1998, when they selected David Legwand. But Mr. Gauthier is quick to point out scouts work as a team as opposed to being a one-man show.
As for the upcoming draft, he’s not giving away any secrets, although he believes the top-rated prospects – Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine and Jesse Puljujärvi – are going to be highly sought after.
“The three of them are very good and will have success in the NHL,” Mr. Gauthier said.
Check out Luc Gauthier’s presentation at the Hockey Conference at UNB on July 6 and 7.
Media contact: Kelsey Pye