It's also certainly a unique time to be entering a new role. Although MacKinnon is no stranger to NHL front office and player development work, there's a new reality for everyone as we settle into a virtual draft and a year where upcoming prospects were unable to finish out their year.
"We had to pivot to video work largely," shared MacKinnon, "you kind of use that last push in a scouting season, which is March, April and into early May believe it or not, to kind of make one more pass through and in particular, the top end of your draft list. It really helps you sort the order out.
"You kind of know the groupings in your draft order, but then it within you know, four or five spots, it helps you short a lot of that out and that's where your global crossover group plays a key role because they can they have their base, they've seen everybody. Now they can go back through for these targeted viewings and, and that's what was taken away this year."
While the use of video has always been part of the drafting process, putting the final touches on the internal draft order, the staff has had to heavily rely on it with cancelled seasons, tournaments and an inability to travel. There are some members of the scouting department who are more attuned with video scouting, while others rely heavily on the in-person evaluation. Everyone has had to make adjustments.
"We had to turn to the video to get those viewings and video scouting is a different style of scouting," continued MacKinnon. "It's not the same as being in the building, live. And then I think we really had to become even more collaborative than we already are by nature in our scouting process, in terms of talking through things as a staff and analysts, Zoom meetings, endless Zoom meeting for months now."
But MacKinnon wouldn't have it any other way. Regardless of how the process is taking place, he's earned this opportunity to contribute on a more significant level.
"I came up through the scouting side, I grew into some senior scouting positions," he recalled, "And then most recently under Ray Shero and Tom Fitzgerald, I was sort of heading up pro scouting and working with the amateur scouting staff. Now I'll be able to add overseeing Binghamton and overseeing the development program as it were on the player development side, sort of cradle to when they hopefully enter the Devils roster at some point. So, it's going to allow me to experience new things, grow my skill set and be more involved with other facets of Hockey Operations that I was just kind of connected to before."
What is certainly clear about the Devils Assistant General Manager is that he's worked extremely hard to earn this opportunity. He's had his hands in just about every position possible, getting a taste for each individual asset that makes up an NHL franchise. It makes him an excellent sounding board for Fitzgerald and a highly respected opinion.
"I look at our roster and I expect significant steps from several different players," MacKinnon said in regard to the current Devils roster. "The easy answer would be Jack Hughes because I do think we're going to see a huge step from Jack. He'll be more comfortable in the league, more confident being able to get to his game.
"I also think you're going to see a massive leap from Nico [Hischier], he is now a young veteran in the league. And I think his ability to really take on that number one matchup role against stiff competition, I think you're going to see an individual emerge as just an extremely impactful leader on and off the ice. So, I think between those two, they'd be the two that identify."
