Uh... our drafting has been leaps and bounds ahead of where it was two years ago. Nonetheless, this has little to do with Manny. He'll help develop talent, not draft it.
This is an unsubstantiated claim that needs to stop being tossed around here.
There's nothing to show Benning is good at drafting at this point, nor that we have progressed in 'leaps and bounds'.
There's nothing to show that anything other than draft position has been the difference between this regime and the previous. (At this time.) Also not to mention that taking Virtanen over Elhers and Nylander was against the grain, on even this board, and both have trended better.
Some of our late round picks have been poor as well. (From the moment they were selected they were doomed even by armchair scouts on here.)
Then lastly throw in the fact they have traded away players like McCann and Forsling and traded for guys like Vey, I don't see scouting as good whatsoever.
So, let's not continue on with this idea.
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As for Malhotra coming on in this role. His reputation of being a leader for his ability to communicate and his holistic understanding of the game is good enough reason for this pretty basic position.
Throw in the fact he's able to literally school the players on face-offs, not being far removed from playing, it's a great pick-up.