REPORT: Leafs adding Dale Derkatch to scouting staff
8 years ago
(On the far right; he is not actually Eric Fehr)
According to a report from News Kamloops’ Gregg Drinnan, the Toronto Maple Leafs have further added to their scouting staff, hiring Prince Albert Raiders player personnel director Dale Derkatch to join the amateur wing.
The Report
From Drinnan’s “MacBeth Report” yesterday:
There were reports on Tuesday that Dale Derkatch, the Prince Albert Raiders’ director of scouting, has joined the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs as an amateur scout. Neither team appeared to have made an announcement as of Tuesday night. . . .
This was further verified by tweets from PEAK Performance Hockey (which Derkatch helps run), and now-former Prince Albert co-worker Troy Hickman, congratulating him on the jump.
What Does This Mean?
It’s always good to have people in your amateur scouting staff who have significant knowledge of the game at that level. Being able to spot good qualities in younger players is one thing; knowing the development process inside and out, having the contacts to find out more about the players, and being able to pre-plan trajectories for players of interests is a whole other ballgame.
Derkatch has had a similar job in the NHL before, spending six years as an amateur scout for the Washington Capitals. He’s coached at the WHL level, spending a year as the bench boss for the Regina Pats. Most importantly, he has five years at the helm of the Raiders, who have developed the likes of Leon Draisatl, Josh Morrissey, and Mark McNeill over the past few years.
Derkatch will join the ever-so-transitioning amateur scouting staff shortly. At the moment, the roster includes John Lilley, Garth Malarchuk, Lindsay Hofford, and Jim Vesey.
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