Scouting Report Snippet Definitions

[trackhurdler25]

After stumbling onto Shindigs' incredibly informative Scouting and You post a few weeks ago, I decided to find out more about the scouting reports and how they are generated. I compiled scouting reports from my 10 scouts for the 200 players in the 2025 draft in my current game and tallied the contents in a spreadsheet. I've compared the snippets with the stats of the draftees and list the correlations as accurately as I could. For this draft there were 416 different snippets, covering most but not all of the player attributes. Notably missing is clear markers for Temperament. As Shindigs has noted, it's probably linked to several other stats, but I haven't been able to pinpoint which ones yet. There are some oddities in the spreadsheet that are possibly incorrect, and a few that I just can't figure or don't have enough data points for (like dour, captaincy material, etc).

I'll only list here the stats that are hidden from the user. The full list is included in the Excel document, found here, but it didn't seem necessary to list the rest here, since we can just look at the stats. There are better people to talk about what makes a good prospect, but hopefully this can help to clarify what snippets to look for.

Report Card (listed under "Mental Characteristics"):

• Ambition
  [table][tr][td]Extremely Ambitious[/td][td]Ambition 20[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]Very Ambitious[/td][td]Ambition 18-19[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]Ambitious[/td][td]Ambition 15-17[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]Unambitious[/td][td]Ambition 1-5[/td][/tr][/table]
• Loyalty
  [table][tr][td]Extremely Loyal[/td][td]Loyalty 19-20[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]Loyal[/td][td]Loyalty 15-18[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]Independent[/td][td]Loyalty 3-5[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]Fickle[/td][td]Loyalty 2[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]Mercenary[/td][td]Loyalty 1[/td][/tr][/table]
• Pressure
  [table][tr][td]Resilient[/td][td]Pressure 19-20[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]Strong Character[/td][td]Pressure 15-18[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]Poor self-belief[/td][td]Pressure 1-5[/td][/tr][/table]
• Professionalism
  [table][tr][td]Model Professional[/td][td]Professionalism 20[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]Professional[/td][td]Professionalism 18-19, not dour[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]Casual[/td][td]Professionalism 2-5, test 1?[/td][/tr][/table]
• Sportsmanship
  [table][tr][td]Honest[/td][td]Sportmanship 20[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]Sporting[/td][td]Sportsmanship 18-19[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]Realist[/td][td]Sportsmanship 1-4[/td][/tr][/table]
• Unsure
  [table][tr][td]Iron Willed[/td][td]Pressure 20 and Determination 16+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]Dour[/td][td]Professionalism 19 and ??[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]Modest[/td][td][/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]Ordinary[/td][td][/td][/tr][/table]

The rest of the snippets are found under "General Impressions - Full Report"
Personality

• Adaptability
  [table][tr][td]could have trouble adapting to life in United States[/td][td]Adaptability 1-5[/td][/tr][/table]
• Ambition
  [table][tr][td]a very ambitious player[/td][td]Ambition 13+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]a very competitive player[/td][td]Ambition 13+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]has a strong desire to win[/td][td]Ambition 13+[/td][/tr][/table]
• Ambition and/or Determination
  [table][tr][td]a strong willed competitive player[/td][td]Ambition 13+ and Determination 13+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]is ambitious and determined with an attitude[/td][td]Ambition 13+ and Determination 13+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]is an ambitious and determined player[/td][td]Ambition 13+ and Determination 13+[/td][/tr][/table]
• Professionalism
  [table][tr][td]a highly professional player[/td][td]Professionalism 13+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]has a fantastic work ethic[/td][td]Professionalism 13+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]has a professional attitude[/td][td]Professionalism 13+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]is a consummate professional[/td][td]Professionalism 13+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]is a model pro[/td][td]Professionalism 13+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]is incredibly professional[/td][td]Professionalism 13+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]a complete team player[/td][td]Professionalism 10+[/td][/tr][/table]
• Sportsmanship
  [table][tr][td]a class act[/td][td]Sportsmanship 13+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]a classy player[/td][td]Sportsmanship 13+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]a classy, modest player[/td][td]Sportsmanship 13+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]a sporting player[/td][td]Sportsmanship 13+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]exhibits sportsmanship and class[/td][td]Sportsmanship 13+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]oozes class[/td][td]Sportsmanship 13+[/td][/tr][/table]

Mental

• Consistency
  [table][tr][td]a very consistent player[/td][td]Consistency 13+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]brings his A—game every night[/td][td]Consistency 13+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]doesn't take shifts off[/td][td]Consistency 13+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]has excellent focus and concentration[/td][td]Consistency 13+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]rarely has a bad game[/td][td]Consistency 13+[/td][/tr][/table]
• Decisions
  [table][tr][td]displays top hockey smarts with the puck[/td][td]Decisions 11+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]doesn't make silly passes[/td][td]Decisions 11+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]is confident in possession of the puck[/td][td]Decisions 11+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]is prepared to wait for an option[/td][td]Decisions 11+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]makes good decisions with the puck[/td][td]Decisions 11+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]makes smart decisions with the puck[/td][td]Decisions 11+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]makes smart plays[/td][td]Decisions 11+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]displays a willing patience[/td][td]Decisions 8+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]has incredible patience with the puck[/td][td]Decisions 8+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]has patience with the puck[/td][td]Decisions 8+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]has the temperament to wait for the pass[/td][td]Decisions 8+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]will wait for the right pass[/td][td]Decisions 8+[/td][/tr][/table]
• Important Matches
  [table][tr][td]at home on the big stage[/td][td]Important Matches 13+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]brings his A—game when needed[/td][td]Important Matches 13+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]excels under pressure[/td][td]Important Matches 13+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]produces when the heat is on[/td][td]Important Matches 13+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]thrives in big games[/td][td]Important Matches 13+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]thrives under pressure[/td][td]Important Matches 13+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]leaves everything on the ice[/td][td]Important Matches 8+[/td][/tr][/table]

Skater Roles
Note that these are likely all 10+, not the higher values you see in the table. Sample sizes were small for many of these.

• Two-way
  [table][tr][td]a fantastic two-way talent[/td][td]Offensive 10+ and Defensive 10+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]brings talent at both end of the ice[/td][td]Offensive 10+ and Defensive 14+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]gives his all at both ends[/td][td]Offensive 11+ and Defensive 10+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]has good two-way instincts[/td][td]Offensive 11+ and Defensive 13+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]is a solid two-way player[/td][td]Offensive 11+ and Defensive 15+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]is a strong two-way player[/td][td]Offensive 11+ and Defensive 10+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]is a strong two-way talent[/td][td]Offensive 13+ and Defensive 15+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]plays a gritty two-way game[/td][td]Offensive 10+ and Defensive 11+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]plays a solid two-way game[/td][td]Offensive 10+ and Defensive 10+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]plays a steady two-way game[/td][td]Offensive 13+ and Defensive 14+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]plays a two-way game[/td][td]Offensive 11+ and Defensive 11+[/td][/tr][/table]
• Offensive
  [table][tr][td]always has an eye to join the rush[/td][td]Offensive 14+, Defensive <10[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]has a strong offensive upside[/td][td]Offensive 18+, Defensive <=10[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]has endless offensive talent[/td][td]Offensive 17+, Defensive <=10[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]has great positional sense in the offensive zone[/td][td]Offensive 11+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]has pure offensive instincts[/td][td]Offensive 17+, Defensive <10[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]is keen to jump up on offensive plays[/td][td]Offensive 15+, Defensive <=11[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]is keen to show off his offensive skills[/td][td]Offensive 14+, Defensive <10[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]is purely an attacking player[/td][td]Offensive 17+, Defensive <10[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]is very dangerous in the offensive zone[/td][td]Offensive 15+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]likes to drift into offensive plays[/td][td]Offensive 16+, Defensive <=10[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]likes to show offensive ability[/td][td]Offensive 16+, Defensive <10[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]looks to make offensive impact[/td][td]Offensive 16+, Defensive <=10[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]plays a dynamic offensive game[/td][td]Offensive 17+, Defensive <10[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]plays a strong offensive game[/td][td]Offensive 16+, Defensive <10[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]plays a very offensive minded game[/td][td]Offensive 18+, Defensive <10[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]plays an offensive minded game[/td][td]Offensive 16+, Defensive <10[/td][/tr][/table]
• Defensive
  [table][tr][td]a solid defensive defenseman[/td][td]Defensive 13+, Offensive <10[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]a stay at home defenseman[/td][td]Defensive 17+, Offensive <10[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]is a strong blueline presence[/td][td]Defensive 17+, Offensive <10[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]is defense minded[/td][td]Defensive 15+, Offensive <10[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]likes to play in a defensive role[/td][td]Defensive 16+, Offensive <10[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]plays a steady defensive game[/td][td]Defensive 19+, Offensive <10[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]plays defense first[/td][td]Defensive 12+, Offensive <10[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]plays defensive first[/td][td]Defensive 17+, Offensive <10[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]plays hard defensively[/td][td]Defensive 16+, Offensive <10[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]plays with strong defensive priorities[/td][td]Defensive 15+, Offensive <10[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]prefers a defensive role[/td][td]Defensive 14+, Offensive <10[/td][/tr][/table]

Technical

• Agitation
  [table][tr][td]a superb agitator[/td][td]Agitation 11+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]draw satisfaction from agitating opponents[/td][td]Agitation 11+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]is in the opponent's face every single shift[/td][td]Agitation 11+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]is superb at goading opponents into making a mistake[/td][td]Agitation 11+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]is very good at agitating opponents[/td][td]Agitation 11+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]likes to wind up opponents[/td][td]Agitation 11+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]can intimidate opponents with his play[/td][td]Agitation 8+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]can intimidate with the best[/td][td]Agitation 8+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]intimidates opponents[/td][td]Agitation 8+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]intimidates opponents with his raw style[/td][td]Agitation 8+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]bullies opponents[/td][td]Agitation 8+[/td][/tr]
  [tr][td]his play worries opposing teams[/td][td]Agitation 8+[/td][/tr][/table]

As far as I can tell, this is everything you can glean from the scouting report that isn't listed under a stat. Keep in mind that for odd numbers, it's likely because of a small sample size. Feel free to check out the complete spreadsheet for a full list and a more complete picture. I hope this helps some of you!

[archibalduk]

Very thorough and useful. Thanks!

[SetzingersCat]

This is brilliant, I've been pretty ignorant to the wording on reports and what they really mean. Thanks for this!

[CJ]

Great stuff! A few of these I had no idea what attributes the scout took from.

[trackhurdler25]

Glad they're helpful! The ones at the end... I still have no idea which attributes they're linked to, it's pretty vague language.

[mush]

A (tireless player) ......... does that mean he has high natural fitness??

[philou21]

This or a high stamina probably.

[SeanSmash13]

Great post, thank you for the research.