There was a time, back when the NHL had only six teams, when most scouts rarely ventured beyond Canadian rinks—maybe an occasional trip south of the border if a rumour was too good to ignore. But as the league expanded and rosters filled with players from the United States, Europe, Russia, and beyond, scouting departments became global operations, leaving no stone—or snowbank—unturned in the search for new talent.
More recently, despite being mocked and laughed at mercilessly by their opponents, the Montreal Canadiens became the first NHL team to establish a permanent scouting office in the North Pole.
And judging by the photo above, it’s undoubtedly fair to ask…who’s laughing now?
