Looking at his biography, there is the temptation to suggest that the main Penguin manager, Jim Rutherford, is an old-fashioned hockey player.
He played in the NHL in 1970. He was the champion in the league since the birth of many of his players. Last year last year, he named the classic heavyweight chief at Ryan Reaves.
Do not be fooled, the head of the Penguin warned Patrik Allvin. Rutherford is just as forward-thinking as they are.
"People may think that Jim is a character from an old school, but I think it's a complete opposite," said Allvin. "He's on time with today's game, he always wants to be the best, he wants to make sure we're at the top of our game, prepared for every scenario."
Rutherford's attitude is shown on the work table.
If the scouts recommend a defender of 5 feet and 9 or a player from a local place such as Slovenia, GM is okay with it.
"The players we're designing will probably have a few years to play in the NHL," said Allvin. "We must be prepared for how the league will change and he is. It is important that we prepare players who are able to adapt to such changes."
More importantly, Rutherford's attitude manifests itself in who sits at the table.
It is not unprecedented for the NHL team to entrust the duties of the head of the scouts to the best scouts of European Columbus, the former Penguin defender of the Ville Sirena - but this is rare. Rutherford does not mind undermining this trend.
"I'm thrilled that Patrik is now at the head of our staff," said Rutherford. "He is very, very good." Chemistry in our scouting team is at the highest level of all time. "
Allvin was promoted from the leading European scout to the director of amateur scouting when Randy Sexton left the penguins to join Jason Botterill in Buffalo last summer.
Item No. 1, which he learned in his new role?
"How difficult it is to travel to rush hour games in different cities," he joked. "Being in Toronto or Montreal, you must be at the beginning to play games and find a good restaurant."
A 43-year-old from Falun, Sweden, Allvin was a close protector during his game days, spending the majority of the two years he played in North America at ECHL with Nashville and Pensacola.
"I was not qualified enough, that's why I was down there," said Allvin. "I'd say I probably worked the hardest with the lowest skill level."
After retiring, he had a conversation with Dan Labraatan, a scout who was a friend from the Rutherford team in Detroit and another Swede on how to get into the business.
He was employed part-time by Montreal in 2002 and Penguins in '06.
In 2012, he was the main European scout.
In the era of Ray Shero Penguins often did not sketch Europeans, using only nine out of 50 types for players from the continent. At Rutherford this ratio is higher. In the last four years, 10 of their 21 types are Europeans.
Allvin said that it is important for scouts not to worry about such things.
"This is the best for the band, this is the end. This is my message for amateurs," said Allvin. "There is no ego. We do it because we want to win. It does not matter to the players we choose from which area they come from. "
Impatiently awaiting this weekend project, Allvin said that you can not predict the position the Penguins will attack because their first pick is not in the second round, 53rd in the overall standings.
"You must hope that some of the players you feel comfortable with will go through," said Allvin.
In addition to this weekend project, Allvin said his wife and 10-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter can not wait to be transferred to Michigan at the end of July. Although he said that staying in Sweden this year did not cause any logistical difficulties for the Penguin scouts, he could set up records of passenger flights to the Atlantic.
"They are very excited to move," said Allvin. "It will probably be a big change for them, but I think that children learn faster than the older ones."
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