Draft Question

does each team know which players other 29 teams like or dislike? Do they have any access to each other's draft lists?

 

They probably don't have access to each other's draft lists because that could be some sort of tampering or something like that. Just imagine if team A wanted this player but Team B, who drafts before them knows it and demands that team A give them this and this or they will take the player, no matter if they don't need them or not. Team A is then out their top ranked player (and sometimes in the case of the Wild, the Devils, the Red Wings, sometimes a very big mystery guy) and have to rely on their second choice, which they didn't expect or something. Could also back door trades could happen and such.

As for likes and dislikes, they probably know to a certain extent.

 

No. In fact, teams will actively provide disinformation to other teams, or be non-commital/ambivalent when asked to make a comment.

But sometimes I have been shocked. One GM, when asked by a major newspaper reporter who he liked in the top 10 in a recent draft, named one player who his team liked very much, but did not expect to go top 10 and were hoping to steal in the 2nd. His own scouts couldn't believe that he had showed his cards like that. Interestingly though that team DID end up drafting the player- in the 2nd round. Lucky!

Another time I remember sitting across a table at a tournament from a young scout and a GM. The young scout said, "Why would they play XXXX on the 4th line!" inadvertently revealng his teams' interest in player XXXX. THe GM said nothing and hustled him away.

Of course with obviously exceptional players they can say anything they really feel. No one is going to be swayed by a scout saying, "Ahh that Sidney Crosby. What a waste of space!".

 

Last year an Atlanta TV station followed and filmed Don Waddell on the floor on draft day 1. It was shown after the draft was completed.

The piece showed how the GMs mull about and talk with each other exchanging information and misinformation. (Since it was aired after the draft, we could retrospectively determine real from factitious). Any way, it was very surprising how much was said between GMs about their preferences and likely selections. In the early first round, it seemed that all GMs knew what their colleagues were going to do.

There was alot of information trianguation. For instance Waddell, it seemed to me, was trying to gauge whether Coburn would be available at his selection. He was "chatting" with Polian from Nashville about who "Darcy liked" in a attempt to guage Buffalo's intention. Polian agreed with the consensus that Buff might take Vanek but then Waddell announced that he heard "Darcy told me he likes Suter." The camera then followed Waddell around the floor but focused across the room to where Polian was rushing to speak with Darcy Regier--presumably to verify his interest in Suter. Waddell looked at the reporter and said, "So, Nashville likes Suter!" It was very cool!

Anyway, the piece went on for a while with more of the same GM high jinks until Waddell selected Coburn. The first 10 picks went down mostly as DW expected--at least from this piece.

There were 2 GMs that seemed aloof and not speaking with anyone--can you guess? Clarke and Lamoriello.

 

Only the really sneaky GM's like Keenan.

They can do some pretty wild things nowadays, with deciphering monitor flicker, decoding keyboard clicks, etc.

 

Why would one team tell everyone their strategy?

 

In the overall, no they dont. But i'm pretty sure they are able to know to a extend which player some teams have in view.

When a team trade down a few spots because they think the player will still be available, they need to be sure the player wont go.

Good example is when Florida trade down to get Horton. They were sure Pitts would take Fleury but if Horton was really the player they were looking for, he still could have go between Fleury and the new Florida pick. Same when Edmonton trade down to grap Pouliot few spots lower (taking into account he was really the player they were looking for...) They certainly have a good idea of each other needs and interests when there are some of those switch picks moves but they certainly dont know all the list of the other team and that's why there's always some surprises at the draft table.

 

in exchange for the other team telling them their strategy. and so they could make a trade/exchange picks and both be satisfied and get the players they want.

 

You mean they were sure that Carolina wanted Staal.

 

teams most likely have a general idea of what other teams might be thinking thru talks as they discuss potential trades with other teams, but you have to keep in mind that while each team would like to know what the others are doing, they don't want anyone to know what they are doing...

so lots of teams may show a ton of interest in a certain player as a decoy so no one realizes the guy they really like...so even if you think you have an idea about a team you don't know

 

but they don't want other teams knowing what they want because then that hurts their leverage...you always want the other team to think they are getting the better of the deal when it comes to draft trades

 

it is more likely that florida knew that either horton or staals would be available at #3 and they would be happy with either

 

No as far as I remember, Carrolina wanted either Fleury or Staal, that is why Florida moved down.