Rick Knickle
Director of Amateur Scouting

Rick Knickle enters his second season as the Coyotes’ Director of Amateur Scouting. He is responsible for all amateur scouting and oversees the Entry Draft process for the Coyotes.

Prior to the 2011-12 season, Knickle served 13 years as a scout with the Nashville Predators. He joined Nashville for the team’s inaugural NHL season in 1998-99. While serving as a scout with the Predators, Knickle was instrumental in drafting many NHL star players including Shea Weber, Dan Hamhuis, Martin Erat and Scott Hartnell.

Knickle, a former goaltender, played 17 seasons and close to 600 games in the AHL/IHL and 14 games with the Los Angeles Kings from 1992-94. He won five championships at the professional level and lost in both the Stanley Cup and Memorial Cup Finals. Knickle also became the second oldest player in NHL history to play in his first NHL game at the age of 32. He posted a career record of 241-171-30 with a 3.53 goals against average (GAA) and 19 shutouts in his 16 seasons in the IHL.

The 52-year-old native of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia was originally drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the sixth round (116th overall) of the 1979 NHL Entry Draft.

Rick resides in Vancouver, British Columbia and has two sons, Alexander and Nikita.