Photo: ruuttu.fi
(ZURICH, from our reporter) As a versatile center, he made it to 621 NHL starts, already in 2003 he expanded the number of personalities in the Finnish Hall of Fame. The legendary Christian Ruuttu has devoted the last twenty years to the search for hockey talent, the vast majority in the role of director of European scouting for the Los Angeles Kings. “You’re almost never at home, but that’s part of it,” the 61-year-old describes today in an exclusive interview for the Hokej.cz website from the second stop of the Euro Hockey Tour.
One of the last things on your agenda was signing a rookie contract with Vojtěch Čihar, right?
We are very happy to have him under contract. The second year he played in the Czech league and he was good, we liked him. He got a lot of space on the ice from Karlovy Vary. I hope he does well in the upcoming junior championship.
How do you feel about the decision to leave for Kelowna in the WHL after MSJ?
It’s always individual. It may not be good for everyone, it is not a rule. I think he will have a more offensive role there, he will get even more minutes. For him, it is an advantage that he gets to know North American culture. Hopefully it will benefit all parties.
Did you get involved in the debates about his future?
No, we left it up to him and the agents. It was a win-win situation for us, whatever he decided to do. We knew Kelowna really cared about him. But we wouldn’t have a problem with him staying in Karlovy Vary either. It was mainly about him choosing what would be best for him.
“It was mainly about Čihař choosing what would be best for him.”
From your point of view, what is Čihař’s greatest strength, which could move him towards the NHL, for example?
First of all I have to mention the great skating. In general, I see him as a very good two-way wing – he works hard, blocks shots, can handle the fade and power play. It’s nice that he could play with the puck more in Kelowna, which comes from the more offensive role. It will help him a lot.
And where, on the contrary, does he need to add?
He clearly needs to step up. He needs to put on some muscle, he’s a pretty skinny guy. But you also have to remember that he is still very young. After all, he is only eighteen years old.
Defenseman Jakub Dvořák is still developing in the Los Angeles system, specifically his second season on the farm in the AHL…
He is taking big steps forward, we are very happy for that. He plays really well. I was just watching the Ontario vs. Colorado game this morning and he was one of those that caught my eye. His skating looks good, he has great range and solid physical parameters. We just want him to play more to the body. But he really understands the puck, he knows how to play. Compared to last season, he made great progress.
Jakub Dvořák | Photo: Facebook Ontario Reign
If I generalize a bit, is there a prevailing opinion among the scouts regarding some element typical for Czech youths?
Not even. I wish more Czech players would stay at home, but almost all of them are disappearing overseas these days. I think that the Czech junior competition would gain in quality. It would benefit your hockey, this is how almost every major talent goes to the Canadian junior team. I’m not saying that it doesn’t make sense from their point of view, but it’s sad for Czech hockey. On the other hand, the Czechs have been doing well in the twenties in recent years, and they have a good team this year as well. We’ll see where they take it.
Did the Czechs rise thanks to the medal series from the twenties in the eyes of you and your colleagues?
I think most scouts don’t look primarily at players’ passports. We take a look at the best of them, who has the most potential. When we draft someone, we look at him for the next five years. You don’t have a crystal ball after all. Some journalists write on the second day after the draft whether it worked out for us or not. But I won’t know for another five years whether he succeeded. That’s how long it usually takes for guys to become NHL players.
“When we draft someone, we look at him for the next five years.”
Petr Jelínek also belongs to your stable of scouts, how does this collaboration work?
He is already starting his third season with us and he is great. You can see right away why he was captain during his playing career. He has a good eye for players, is willing to learn and work. He is always at matches somewhere, which is simply part of this job.
You yourself have come across a number of Czech players not only in the NHL, can you remember any of them?
I remember Jan Ludvig, Frankie Kučera, Jan Čaloun… It was always a lot of fun with them. With Czechs and Czechoslovakians. (laughs) They were nice guys.
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