from Michael Traikos of the National Post,

Scouting is often described — inaccurately, some would suggest — as a guessing game. Well, now it’s a crapshoot.

“It’s like a puzzle. You start with the edges and fill it in as the year goes on,” said Craig Button, TSN’s chief scout. “Every time you go and watch a player, it’s just another data point. You get confirmation so you’re not worried about it anymore. You take all that information and come to a decision. It’s about gaining confidence. You can say the playoffs or the world championship is one piece of the puzzle, but it’s a significant piece.”

How significant?

In 2014, David Pastrnak fell to 25th in the draft, mostly because his draft-eligible year had been affected by injuries. He missed time significant time with a bad back. Even when he was healthy enough to play, he wasn’t the player we see today. By the time he got to the world championship, he went from being a potential top-10 pick to being a questionable first-rounder.

With no more games this season, the draft could be littered with Pastrnaks.

For the Ottawa Senators, who could own the No. 2 and No. 3 picks (acquired from the San Jose Sharks) in this year’s draft based on the current standings, it could be the difference between ending up with someone like Pastrnak or a player who years from now never should have gone in the top five.

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