Scott Lachance, Head of US Scouting for the New Jersey Devils, starts his workweek before dawn. His schedule often involves early morning drives to Logan Airport in Boston, familiar routines through security and frequent flights across North America. A typical trip might include a 12-hour journey to Seattle followed by days spent traveling between cities to attend hockey games.
Lachance’s career as a professional hockey player included time with the New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, and Columbus Blue Jackets from 1991 to 2004. He played his final season with Lowell of the American Hockey League, an affiliate of the Devils. After retiring from playing in 2007, he was hired by then-Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello as an amateur scout in New England.
Eighteen years later, Lachance now leads the US scouting operations but covers players worldwide. “I basically do the whole globe,” he said. “(Our group) does the top 50-60 players depending on the draft. So, wherever the players are, we travel to. It just changes from year-to-year.”
His team of cross-over scouts includes Chief Scout Mark Dennehy, Director of Amateur Scouting Paul Castron and Head of CHL Scouting Greg Royce. They rely on regional scouts who specialize in specific areas and submit recommendations for prospects.
“Our regional scouts in every area do a tremendous job and they put lists together,” Lachance said. “So, (the cross-over scouts) put our schedule together in pockets. We try to get 7-10 days in one region. That’s the way I try to do it. Everybody does it differently. I’d rather not bounce around from league to league.”
Scouting trips are tightly scheduled around games throughout different leagues such as the Western Hockey League (WHL). On off-days like Thursdays when there are no WHL games, scouts use time for travel or administrative tasks such as filing reports or catching up with other staff.
When watching games, Lachance focuses on five key traits: skating, skill, sense, size/strength and spirit. He explained his approach: “You usually already have a list of guys you want to watch,” he said. “But I think I almost do it reverse. I like to let the game come to me…you hone in from there.” For note-taking during games he prefers using a notebook rather than digital devices: “I’m still old school,” he laughed.
Regional scouts provide detailed background information about prospects by talking with coaches and others close to players; cross-over scouts use this information while assembling overall rankings for draft selections.
“We’re really busy going from town to town,” Lachance said. “Our regional scouts do a tremendous job of giving us background information, whether it be interviewing trainers or billets or coaches.”
Draft preparation is ongoing throughout the year and includes mid-term meetings where priorities are set based on anticipated draft positions: “At your midterm meetings, you then prioritize based on where you’re picking in the draft,” Lachance said.
Travel can be complicated by weather conditions and logistical issues such as delayed flights or difficult road conditions—factors that require careful planning by scouts.
“Going through Ontario, you’re sometimes chasing a lake effect snowstorm home and trying to beat it,” Lachance said.
Despite these challenges—including flight cancellations and delays—Lachance expressed satisfaction with his work: “But I wouldn’t change it for the world. This is what I love to do.”
The annual NHL Draft represents a culmination of months spent traveling and evaluating talent: “It’s an exciting time,” Lachance said. “Your work is done…it’s the scout’s Super Bowl.” In 2025, due to remote arrangements for teams during the draft process instead of traditional centralized locations at arenas, staff found some advantages including increased privacy for discussions: “You can speak freely…you don’t have to worry about someone seeing your list.”
In 2025, New Jersey selected seven players at various rounds including Conrad Fondrk (2nd round), Ben Kevan (2nd), Mason Moe (3rd), Trenten Bennett (4th), Gustav Hillstrom (4th), David Rozsival (6th) and Sigge Holmgren (6th).
Reflecting on his path into scouting after retirement from playing hockey nearly two decades ago—and his enduring enthusiasm—Lachance said: “I was fortunate enough to get hired by Lou right after I stopped playing…We’re doing something we love…It’s worth it to have a chance to help the team you work for. And hopefully we achieve our goal and win a Stanley Cup.”
After each trip ends with returning home late Sunday evening following another long day of travel across multiple states or provinces—and nights spent away—he prepares himself for another week repeating these routines.
