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Drafting Mathematics - JUN.20.08


Cool Hand Luke

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<table align="center" width="90%"><tbody><tr><td><img src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload//2008/06/dotto_blog.jpg" align="left" border="0" hspace="4" vspace="1">I hated math in school, it was excruciatingly monotonous, needlessly extensive and ludicrously intensive, and of course I never imagined what I was learning would actually have practical applications in the "real world". So imagine my surprise upon learning new GM Mike Gillis had given his scouting staff a new, unorthodox formula for finding the future stars that will don a Canuck logo. I believe the complex rendering he gave to the staff looked something like this:

( Integrity + Heart + Hockey Smarts ) + x = y

X of course, is the variable; the defining characteristic of their selection. For lack of a better cliché, it is the x-factor, the central mark of a player that cannot be taught, that cannot be extracted with enough drills or coaching.

Now, since you always had to write out your work in order to receive the marks for a given problem in Math, we too shall do the same, and we'll come up with our answer to the drafting conundrum.

(Integrity + Heart + Hockey smarts ) + Raw talent = Kyle Beach

I know what you're thinking, with all of the well-documented on-ice incidents involving Beach, why would Gillis believe this edgy power forward has the hockey smarts and integrity of character to warrant being selected 10th overall in a deep draft?

Well, with Gillis' public statement that his staff puts a lot of emphasis on the interviews and non-historical information extracted from the people closest to the players, it would appear more credence is lent to the future outlook than the previous, as it should be when you're drafting for your future.

If the staff really is willing to atleast partially overlook the historical information on a given player and instead focus on their potential, then Beach is undeniably the premiere option at 10th overall. All indications are that Kyle's on-ice rambunctious attitude is the result of misplaced vigor and passion. The by-product of a young player who has yet to find his identity, yet has been thrust into the spotlight with a target on his chest. It's some kind of curve these kids get graded on when at 18 years old, they're expected to act as normal kids, impervious to challenges, in a world that is anything but normal and overflowing with overwrought challenges.

Scouts dream of selecting players with Beach's fight and effort in both zones, "from the blueline in, there is no one that competes like him" (Blair MacDonald, NHL Central Scouting). If that unwavering commitment to bringing his best every night can be channeled into his performance on the ice, not his personality on the ice, then the Canucks could have that game-changer we've all been wishing for.

Gillis has made it clear that having a player with an undying desire to win, and the willingness to do anything to win is precisely the type of body he wants filling a Canucks sweater, the character issues that pundits have been drowning themselves in for months can be dealt with; attitude can be altered, talent is innate.

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