Will Scouch

You know guys like Lawrence and bear off among the other nc double a guys like I thought that we lived in a world where we wanted to push these young athletes to like really push their boundaries and challenge themselves and like.

face some adversity and overcome it, even if they struggle.

And I think that Lawrence and Verhoff both took the hard way.

They took the hard road and they went and tested themselves.

And I think Verhoff, like, I think he's not the perfect hockey player, but for what he did with North Dakota this year as a 17 year old, I mean, there just isn't really that much history to go back and look at and see other 17 year olds at this level.

It's a pretty new phenomenon, but yeah,

I mean, I thought that there were a lot of high-end habits and tools and things on display.

He was a shot factory last year with Victoria, and that wasn't really my experience with him at North Dakota this year.

So he's kind of trying to diversify his game.

I think we saw hints of that at the World Juniors as well, when he could stretch out a little more.

I think his number 18 was a little underwhelming to me, but I think you just... He's a guy that I think is just going to get better and better and better, and it seems like he's a sponge.

He absorbs everything that goes on around him, and he's in a great program.

I'd be in no rush to rush him and...

I think that the advantage of having an extra season in the NCAA at this point is a huge experiential advantage.

Yeah, I see what you're saying.

And I think I would agree.

I think there is probably...

I mean, in a situation like I always try to put myself ahead of the athlete, like I never played super high level hockey, but I did grow up playing sports.

And I think if you're in a situation where it is a lot, it is a big jump going from the WHL to the MCHC.

It's not easy.