The Winnipeg Jets announced a bit of restructuring on their scouting staff on Tuesday.
The biggest change will be Mark Hillier taking over as the Director of Amateur Scouting from Marcel Comeau. That’s been a position Comeau has held with the organization dating back to its years in Atlanta. Since 2003, Comeau’s drafts have been here and there but have generally gotten much better since the drafting team was the Winnipeg Jets, not the Atlanta Thrashers. He is remaining with the Jets as an amateur scout, taking a step back to spend more time with his family.
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Hillier certainly has the experience to take over the role. He’s been the Jets Head Amateur Scout for the past five years, with results that speak for themselves. He also has been the Director of Amateur Scouting elsewhere, filling the role in Toronto between 1999-2002, where first round picks in his tenure included Luca Cereda (1999), Brad Boyes (2000), and Carlo Colaiacovo (2001). So, uhh, not exactly inspiring stuff but drafting never lays at the feet of just one guy.
The Jets also plugged a few holes in their European scouting staff. Amateur scout Michael Sundlov has taken a general managing position in Sweden and to fill that void, the Jets have brought in former NHLer Kjell Dahlin, a former Stanley Cup winner with the Montreal Canadiens in 1986.
Meanwhile, European professional scout Anders Gozzi has also taken a general managing position in Sweden and he’ll be replaced by Jari Gronstrand, who has spent his last nine years in a similar role with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Winnipeg has also added Mark White to their staff as a college free agent scout, which is apparently a thing. White, according to the release, will work out of Rhode Island. He was previously the associate head coach at Brown University for the past six years.