The scout who drafted Drew Doughty and Quinton Byfield for LA could be coming to the Maple Leafs
Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
If Mats Sundin is hired as VP of Hockey Operations, he could bringing in a former Maple Leaf alongside but it's not a player — but an architect of the 2000s era.
Although it isn't confirmed, the Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly holding a press conference to announce the hirings of both Mats Sundin and John Chayka to help be the new leaders to guide them into a new era backed by both passion and percentages.
While the jury is still out on the actual legitimacy of the hirings, all reports have indicated this is the partnership that the team is going to go with, and they could be bringing on names like Tie Domi and Gary Roberts as well.
Mats Sundin could bring a former Leaf along with him — the guy who helped build Sundin's old team
But there's another former Maple Leaf who has been brought up as someone who could be a huge factor in finding the next hidden gem. It's not a player no, but a former scout from a time long past.
Mark Yannetti has been named as a potential new face to settle into Bay St., and considering he's spent nearly 20 years as Los Angeles' Director of Amateur Scouting — he's had a lot of experience along with success:
They're gonna look at bringing in other individuals to come in here...drafting will be a big part of it, we're starting to hear a little bit of Mark Yannetti's name out of Los Angeles.
One thing about Yannetti though is that he isn't a stranger to Sundin or the Maple Leafs. From 2000-2006 he was a pro and amateur scout with the team, and saw not only their most successful years but also helped bring in some very important players over the years.
The team added the likes of Carlo Colaicovo, Kyle Wellwood, Alex Steen and Matt Stajan while Yannetti was around, and they all went on to have long and respected careers.
Why Toronto needs someone like Mark Yannetti to help their scouting department
The Kings have had some pretty fantastic success since Yannetti arrived in 2006. After a year as a pro scout he went back to amateur then became the Director of Amateur Scouting. During his time the Kings drafted the likes of:
- Drew Doughty
- Jonathan Bernier
- Trevor Lewis
- Wayne Simmonds
- Brayden Schenn
- Thomas Hickey
- Kyle Clifford
- Tyler Toffoli
- Tanner Pearson
- Adrian Kempe
- Quinton Byfield
- Jonathan Bernier
- Trevor Lewis
- Wayne Simmonds
- Brayden Schenn
- Thomas Hickey
- Kyle Clifford
- Tyler Toffoli
- Tanner Pearson
- Adrian Kempe
- Quinton Byfield
That's a laundry list of hall of famers, future ones, incredible role players and locker room legends. There's a reason Yannetti has been given nearly two decades to run the show — he's proven to be pretty good at his job.
He's the exact type of guy you want running things in Toronto. Right now, Mark Leach is the Director of Amateur Scouting, and while he's had extensive experience as a scout; he's only been a director for a couple years.
Switching him for someone who knows the deeper inner workings of the system would be a benefit; and he doesn't need to be fired. Just make him a scout again.
Sundin is quite familiar with Yannetti and knows that he helped his team 25 years ago, and he's even better now with 20 years of extra experience and some Stanley Cup success to boot.
It's not Gary Roberts, or Tie Domi, or the reanimated body of Pat Quinn who could be helping save the Maple Leafs — it's Mark Yannetti, and he might just be on board.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
The wait is finally over as Mats Sundin and John Chayka are being announced as the Maple Leafs new leadership
The wait is finally over as Mats Sundin and John Chayka are being announced as the Maple Leafs new leadership
Previously on Hockey Patrol