NHL Central Scouting final meetings underway

TORONTO -- The top evaluators from NHL Central Scouting are in place and ready to begin debating and scrutinizing the top 210 North American skaters and 30 North American goaltenders here at the board offices in Toronto.

The final meeting to determine the top 2015 draft-eligible prospects is underway.

The meeting this year will open with lead goaltending scout Al Jensen and his evaluations of the top North American goalies. The scouts will then proceed to rank forwards and defensemen within all those North American leagues.

As always is the case prior to each and every final meeting, NHL.com is very appreciative and grateful for the vision and foresight by former NHL Central Scouting director EJ McGuire. It was McGuire who first offered the idea of having a reporter from NHL.com sit in on the meetings to gain a better understanding of how the process is done, in addition to realizing how passionate these veteran scouts are when it comes to aiding the 30 NHL teams on draft day.

McGuire waged a brave five-month battle with a rare form of cancer, Leiomyoscarcoma, before passing in the early morning of April 7, 2011.

Jim Gregory, who served as Director of Central Scouting for many years before becoming Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations, always respected the way McGuire went about his business.

"He did his job and allowed others to do theirs and was inconspicuous," Gregory said. "He was a great person and he turned Central Scouting into something special."

Scouts in attendance in addition to Jensen and current Director of Central Scouting Dan Marr, are David Gregory, Chris Edwards, Peter Sullivan, John Williams, Greg Rajanen and Troy Dumville. Director of European Scouting Goran Stubb will make his recommendations to Marr from a separate location on the top international skaters and goaltenders.

Williams, who finished his first season with Central Scouting, did much of his work in the Western Hockey League and Western Canadian region, working closely with the other veteran WHL scout on the staff, Peter Sullivan. Williams had served as assistant director of scouting for the Columbus Blue Jackets the past five years and his extensive scouting background spans 25 years, beginning with nine seasons in the OHL with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

Dumville will offer his recommendations of those players participating in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Also at the roundtable are video/website manager Luke McGoey, administration manager Nathan Ogilvie-Harris, senior director of information technology Jack Gerien and Central Scouting coordinator Jan Egert.

Follow Mike Morreale on Twitter at: @mikemorrealeNHL