Alan Hepple Previews 2020 NHL Draft

Colorado Avalanche director of amateur scouting Alan Hepple previewed the 2020 NHL Draft in a video conference call with media members last Friday.
This year's draft will be held virtually on Oct. 6-7. The Avalanche currently has six selections with a pick each in the first (25th overall), third (75th), fourth (118th), fifth (149th), sixth (167th) and seventh rounds (211th).

Here is the transcript of Hepple's call:
On having a later pick in Round 1:
"It's a bigger range obviously. When we started this process, we didn't know if they were coming back to play and we kind of went with the premise that we were picking 29, knowing not what was going to happen. We kind of looked at that and then when it finally played out at 25, we'd already covered all those guys. We covered a lot of names. We're hoping some guys drop and guys slide. So that's the good thing about, you know, being prepared and spending the last basically six months getting prepared for this."
On what the Avs are looking for with the 25th pick:
"I think one of the biggest things is pick the best player. You know, we've kind of got the criteria now, we're going with sense and we're going with speed and skill level. It's pick the best player and not worry about right-handed shot, left-handed shot or, you know, positional; we're picking the best player. That's kind of been the thing now, we kind of said everybody's in play, we're not trying target one specific area."
On what the criteria is for players selected in later rounds:
"We try to stick with the hockey sense. You know, that's a mandate from [general manager Joe Sakic], he gives us that. He likes the hockey sense and obviously you know we're a fast team, so that's the thing. Maybe it's a kid with hockey sense that maybe he's going to have to work on his skating, he might not be the biggest guy. So, he's got to have something that he can basically hang his hat on to get to the next level. So we try and stick with the same criteria, but knowing that not every box is going to be checked and they're going to have some flaws and it's going to take some time for them to develop. It is a bit of a challenge, but we try to stick with the same criteria."
On looking ahead to 2021 and scouting for next year's draft:
"We're a little bit at the mercy of, you know, governments and things that are going on. The Ontario Hockey League and the Western Hockey League are starting December 1, that's the target date. The Quebec league starts tonight, but there are some arenas that aren't even allowing people in, even scouts, they're not allowed in. So, I think going forward it's going to be very fluid, we're going to have to wait and see what happens. We do have guys in the States, we do have guys in Canada, so we don't have any problems with that. As far as getting coverage within the countries there might be no crossover. We're going to have to rely on video again. I've come to appreciate video a lot more in the last six months, so we'll have to rely on that. There's a lot of things that even right now I don't even know if we have an answer for because there's so many changes every day. Like I said, the Quebec league was opening up the other day and then next thing we get a message yesterday or the day before that they were closing some rinks to scouts, so things are changing every day on that."
On how the scouts adapted to working virtually:
"We kind of hit the ground running. I mean, I've had over 100 of these (video) calls, whether it's been with prospects, my guys, you know, all over the world. You know, calls with the Avalanche and things like that. So that just became a big part of my life, as far as video calls. We jumped on the video early. We've had guys at the Pepsi Center cutting video for us of games, so that was a big thing. We were dealt the hand we were dealt, and we just dealt with it, we figured it out in a way where we could watch games. My guys have always been good at getting information and getting background stuff, so that was always going to be there. They did it and then we interviewed every kid over a video call, and again, we just did what we had to do."
On how limited access to gyms and ice could affect the development of prospects:
"It's funny because a lot of the kids, they have found a way to keep working out. They found a way to try to get in arenas and skate and sometimes it might not be as much as in the past, but they found a way. You know what, I was talking to somebody the other day and somebody mentioned that some of the kids they're in great shape because all they've done for the last five to six months is work out. They've gotten off the ice, they've gotten away from just the stuff on the ice, and they've got in the gym and they've worked out because a 17-year-old kid, 18-year-old kid it's big for his development. As far as the hockey goes, it'll be interesting to see where this goes. Like I said, the Ontario league and the Western league, they are starting mid-November. The USHL already started practicing, some of the lower leagues they are back on the ice, they're not playing games but they're practicing. So, will it slow their development? I think it remains to be seen, but I know from a lot of the talk with some people is that the workouts and the off-ice workouts have been outstanding. It's been a bit of a blessing that way as far as being able to work out off the ice and get stronger."
On what the Avs look for in prospects:
"Hockey sense, skill, skating, size is one of the things that's probably changed over the last few years based on you know, the game has gotten faster--you don't have to be big but you have to be fast. And we do all the background character stuff on these kids, we find out how hard they're willing to work. You know, are they good people, are they good kids. There's a lot that goes into it, it's not just going to games and writing reports. There's a lot of background stuff that we do on these kids, so we know what they're like coming in and I can tell the (Avalanche) development guys. We work with the development guys, helping them, kind of let them know what this kid is, what his deficiencies are, where he's coming from so there's a whole bunch of stuff from the background to off-ice stuff as well."
On not having a selection in Round 2:
"I mean, that's the one we've talked about this year, we pick at 25 and then we pick at 75, we're going to go through 50 picks where people are going to fly off our draft board and things like that. But, I look at the players as assets. I mean I want them all to play and, you know, we drafted them for a reason because we liked them, we have interest in the kid, but at the same time they're assets for Joe to go out and do what he needs to do to get pieces and things like that. We make do with the picks and then if Joe has to trade some to get another piece to the puzzle on his end, I'm all for it. I mean we deal with what we've got and that's what we kind of planned on for the last six months."
On how the scouts feel looking at the Avalanche's prospect pipeline:
"It's always fun to see the positivity. Our guys, my guys have done a great job finding these guys. You know what, I always say it's tough picking at the top, it's not easy. You got to pick the right guy and you know whether it's Cale Makar, whether it's Bo Byram, we had to make a decision on Bo Byram and we made the right decision, even with Alex Newhook, we made the right decision. It's good to see. Like I said, I want to see them all play and I realize that's a crazy dream. It's rewarding, it makes you feel good and it makes the job a little bit easier sometimes when you've got good picks. Again, they're all assets. Who knows, down the road we could be trading assets to get guys we need. That's what we try to give Joe, is the good players that he can trade maybe down [the road] to make the Avalanche better."