Episode Description: In this episode of the Wake Up Eager Workforce podcast, Suzie Price sits down with Neil Smith, former general manager of the New York Rangers, and Allan Hamernick, founder of CoreFive Analytics, to discuss how TriMetrix and Axiology assessments are being used in NHL scouting and player development. Whether you're in sports or business, this episode offers fascinating insights into selecting top talent and reducing risk in decision-making. Overview of Episode #121 ---  Embracing New Approaches in Talent Scouting: The Application of Assessments in NHL Player Selection Analyzing Risk Attributes and Decision Making with the Axiology and Acumen Assessment to Make Better Decisions Reviewing Real-Life Case Studies and the Impact on the Sport, the Team, and Each Individual In this episode: [00:04:51 Suzie Price]: "Al uses this inventory of tools to help leaders understand who they’re hiring, who they’re scouting, and which draft picks to make by analyzing information you can’t get just by watching them play." [00:06:17 Allan Hamernick]: "The core five tools we use are DISC, Motivators, Competencies, Axiology, and EQ. They give us a comprehensive picture of a person, from how they communicate to how they manage themselves emotionally." [00:18:40 Neil Smith]: "It’s an unbelievably valuable tool for scouting in athletics. It adds a layer of insight that you just can’t get from watching players or hearing their stories." [00:21:51 Neil Smith]: "In the 1989 draft, we took five players, two of whom became Hockey Hall of Famers, and it set Detroit up for ten to twelve years as a team." [00:25:29 Neil Smith]: "The more information I can get about a person, the better chance I have of making the right decision. That goes for employment in business as well as athletics." [00:29:45 Allan Hamernick]: "One team asked us, can you tell us what this player will be like if we give him $3 million two years from now? What’s he going to be like? And we were able to build an index for that." [00:32:03 Allan Hamernick]: "We approach draft selection as risk management. You can't eliminate risk, but we help teams know what a player will need to work on and where they could potentially struggle." [00:54:33 Suzie Price]: "We use these tools to reduce the risk in hiring and team decisions, but there’s always a risk because humans are complex beings." [01:02:35 Neil Smith]: "Leadership on a team, in a company, or anywhere is critical. If you have an idiot for a leader, your company is going to fail." [01:03:31 Suzie Price]: "The fish rots from the head down. That’s why the work you guys are doing is so important. It gives you such a competitive advantage."