Mann looks ahead to NHL Draft
As part of the call, Mann discussed a number of draft prospects, depth of the draft, and much more.
On drafting based on the Sens' roster
When you look through the roster I feel like there are some holes there and if there's a player that fits the need at the time then I think you have to go with that player. However, we all know that teams are built through the middle and the back end and built around that, normally, that's how you'd do it. For us, I still like what we have up the middle in the organization with Josh Norris and Shane Pinto on their way and I would imagine that Colin White will be a different player this year, that would be my expectation anyway, so I feel there are pieces there up the middle. It's more of a draft that's a little heavier on the wing than up the middle. You have your handful of centres that are available but just through numbers themselves, it looks like wingers are a little more plentiful.
On what the Sens will be getting with the fifth overall pick
I think it's going to depend on what happens ahead of us. That's the thing for us: we have to be ready for a number of different things including a scenario where somebody wants to move up and take five as well. If that's the case, what does that give us in the end as well? That is a possible scenario that the amateur staff has prepared for because this year, we're in the amiable place of picking at three and five but equally, based on the nature of the importance of the draft for the organization, that we have to listen and prepare for any scenario that may happen because I think teams will call and Pierre has already indicated that he is willing to listen.
On Quinton Byfield and Tim Stutzle and if they are NHL ready
Two very good hockey players but very different players. Quinton has the big physical presence that's very noticeable right off the hop. He's a genuine kid who works extremely hard, competes extremely hard day-to-day and brings a skillset that a lot of big players don't necessarily have. For Tim, if you interview both kids, there's a little more maturity in Tim based on the fact that he's lived with men the last 18 months. Being around men and ex-NHL guys, it's understandable that his maturity level is maybe a little further along off-ice and he's a kid that brings speed and skill where Byfield, who moves pretty well for a big guy, brings a skillset with a little bit more power to his game. Stutzle is probably closer to being NHL ready at this time just because he's played in the DEL, and he's been around those men and ex-NHLers. With Quinton, you have to wait and see. I don't worry about size factor but it's just about where he is on the ice with NHL players and if you keep him around for a little bit and see if he can fit in or if it's better off for him to go back to junior. The other thing with Tim, you have the option to send him to the AHL whereas Quinton doesn't have that option. The options are a little more in Tim's favour but Quinton at the same time is ready to battle for a spot in the NHL and whether he's ready or not you have to run him through the process and see, but to go back to junior wouldn't be a bad thing at all. It would be part his process that's all.
On Jack Quinn
Along with Jack Quinn, there's obviously Lucas Raymond and Seth Jarvis. There are some offensive right wingers available and right now, specifically to Quinn, he scored 52 goals and that's not an easy feat no matter what league you play in. That's enticing to us. Raymond we've watched quite a bit lately because of the fact he is playing and that's been a bonus for us and him as well. We've been able to see the growth of him over the past six or seven months playing in the men's league last year and this year. With Jarvis, he doesn't get a chance to play either but he's a kid we have to keep an eye on to see what kind of physical growth he's been able to gain over the last six or seven months.
On the depth of the second-round with the Sens holding four second-round draft picks
I've let Pierre know for a while now that the second round, we're still able to get some solid players there. We feel strongly about that. We feel that a number of them will be on the board at that point in time so while I understand he has a deal to make that helps us now and moving forward. I completely understand that, but equally, I want him to know that if it's not something that he feels helps us, equally we can pick a player there that will help the Ottawa Senators down the road for sure.
On his philosophy on drafting a goalie
A few years back we did a study internally looking at goalies and their progress and how long it takes and what is needed and teams that have done it well and not done it well and why they've been successful or not. From there, we did start to choose goalies more frequently and there's certain pieces to their game that we look for. We're not opposed to taking a goalie at any point if we feel it's the best thing for the organization. We want to win and we want to pick the best player available to help us win and if it's a goalie, it's a goalie. If it's a winger, it's a winger. If it's a defenceman, it's a defenceman. I really don't get hung up too much on the positional piece rather than how they can help us the most at that point in time when we are picking.
On how many mock drafts have been run
The list has been pounded away pretty extensively for a longer period of time this year. the mock drafts for us, we kind of pushed back a little bit this year because of the fact there were so many other things in play such as some kids playing, some not, injuries, trying to find out what guys have been doing in their offseason. So now we're going through that process and we've already started that now and will continue to do that up until probably as late as Monday. We'll run through some scenarios again as obviously as days go by, things will come up for Pierre and we'll run a mock draft accordingly based on some of that information so that we are prepared for whatever may happen on Tuesday and Wednesday.
On having 13 picks and maybe using them on some surprise picks in the later rounds
It's possible. Once you start to move down, for us, you have to start to look at what we've picked already and some of the needs and weigh the upside of the player versus can they help us down the road in a certain position. You don't want to trade by position because you always want the best player but equally, when you start to move down, you start to see a little less gap from one player to another within the staff so then you can make a decision accordingly. At that point, it just depends. If we haven't picked as many defencemen as we'd like to, we have to take that into consideration. If we feel like we want to add a little more skill, we'll go in that direction.
On how much he talks with Belleville head coach Troy Mann about how to best develop prospects in the AHL
I try to stay out of his business and equally he tries to stay out of my business. The only thing I can say is that we try to make it mandated within our amateur staff to spend a little more time in Belleville and for myself even a little bit more just to see what is happening so we know what the development path is for some of these players so they can help us make a better pick or continue to make good picks moving forward depending on what the situation is. As far as Troy, I understand he's my brother and I don't need to pat him on the back as his past speaks for itself on what he's able to do with players and if you talk to players who have played for him those things are all positive so far from that end of it, the most important thing for him and I is that when a player arrives for myself and our staff to prepare him as much as possible for what he's getting and what is needed. Troy and his staff do a wonderful job of providing that for his players and feedback obviously helps us with our picks moving forward.
