Every NHL team pre-scouts every opponent to prepare for games. At the highest levels of our game, coaches are able to glean huge amounts of information by watching video of their current opponent’s previous games. Players want to know how to win each game. They want to know that the coaching staff knows how to give their team the edge. Players need to be focused on the specific process that gives them the best chance to win. This information delivery process starts with pre-scouting your team’s opponent, and the information is delivered during your pregame team meetings.

The game of hockey often uses the word tendencies to describe what teams do and how they do it. Pre-scouting your team’s opponent is about understanding their tendencies and planning your team’s response to give your players their best chance to win. Different coaches like to focus on different parts of their opponent’s game, including offensive and defensive strategies, and most coaches focus on the special-team-play strategies that have been used during recent games....