NHL Draft Combine 2025

[coooldude]

Maybe it’s the opposite. The lower a player is projected to get drafted, the more teams that have the chance to draft said player. Therefore, there are more teams looking to interview and learn more about the player, as opposed to just 1 team for the projected first overall(assuming the isles are going to draft Schaefer). 30 team interviews is basically the whole first round.

Sharks head of amateur scouting last year said they interview a lot of the kids just because it's the only chance you get to do that before they're in other team control. Helps you to calibrate the class and your list, and cross classes, as well. I think if anyone has a chance to draft a kid or trade for him in the future, they'll interview them. Honestly more surprised that only 23 teams are interviewing Mrtka.

 

[rocketdan9]

I'm shocked there's that much interest in Cam Reid

Really? He is a nice D prospect.

He is a very good skater. Improved on D end. He plays with confidence and has a good shot.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Really? He is a nice D prospect.

He is a very good skater. Improved on D end. He plays with confidence and has a good shot.

not that big, doesn't defend well

not very projectable as an NHLer imo

 

[lanky]

Measurements tomorrow?

Doubt it. Those are usually done with physical testing on the final day (Saturday).

 

[coooldude]

Measurements are done June 7. Schedule here.

2025 NHL Scouting Combine is underway | Montréal Canadiens

Week-long evaluation process via interviews and fitness testing begins today

www.nhl.com

 

[Playmaker09]

Doubt it. Those are usually done with physical testing on the final day (Saturday).

Measurements are done June 7. Schedule here.

2025 NHL Scouting Combine is underway | Montréal Canadiens

Week-long evaluation process via interviews and fitness testing begins today

www.nhl.com

I figured it would fall under "medical assessments".

 

[msboylan]

I feel kind of bad lol

At some point I'm sure they get sick and tired of it all.

The league should change the process. Have each of these prospects come up to the podium. Answer 10 basic questions in front of execs or team rep. "What have you been doing since the hockey season ended etc.".

Then whichever team wants to have a more in depth interview can do so. Cutting down from 30 to 10 interviews (example).

I feel especially for the kids whose native languages aren't English. I know firsthand how draining it can be to keep up a high-level, high-stakes conversation in your second or third language. But maybe that's also a small part of the evaluation process for those kids.

 

[viceroy]

Honestly more surprised that only 23 teams are interviewing Mrtka.

Does he habla ingles?

 

[alko]

Any list of players?

 

[Hockeyfrilla]

Any list of players?

1st post, 1 st page.

 

[Dotter]

These young athletes are expected to sit through interviews and field questions during one of the most unforgettable moments of their lives—just before being drafted by an NHL team that may one day pay them millions to play the game they love.

Truly heartbreaking!

 

[STL fan in MN]

These young athletes are expected to sit through interviews and field questions during one of the most unforgettable moments of their lives—just before being drafted by an NHL team that may one day pay them millions to play the game they love.

Truly heartbreaking!

True.

Even if i was a kid projected to go say in the 5-10 range I would be happy to talk to anyone that wanted to interview me as I’d want to interview them too. Learn more about their org, what’s important to them, see if I like their vibe. A kid that age should be a sponge so maybe someone on one of these other teams offers some sort of profound advice. And while some of the front office rosters likely aren’t all that exciting, there’s some living legends on some of the teams. Oh no! I have to go meet with the Bruins and HHOFer Cam Neely. How horrible. And then I have to meet with STL that includes this Al MacInnis guy…bruh…fml

 

[wickedwitch]

True.

Even if i was a kid projected to go say in the 5-10 range I would be happy to talk to anyone that wanted to interview me as I’d want to interview them too. Learn more about their org, what’s important to them, see if I like their vibe. A kid that age should be a sponge so maybe someone on one of these other teams offers some sort of profound advice. And while some of the front office rosters likely aren’t all that exciting, there’s some living legends on some of the teams. Oh no! I have to go meet with the Bruins and HHOFer Cam Neely. How horrible. And then I have to meet with STL that includes this Al MacInnis guy…bruh…fml

In theory, sure. In reality, 30 interviews is a ton. I've had days where I've had meetings all days, and even when I was excited for each individual meeting, a full day of them is always too much. Now imagine doing it for 3 days straight.

 

[STL fan in MN]

In theory, sure. In reality, 30 interviews is a ton. I've had days where I've had meetings all days, and even when I was excited for each individual meeting, a full day of them is always too much. Now imagine doing it for 3 days straight.

Yeah, but you’re just saying you personally don’t have the energy and excitement of a teenager anymore, right? And 3 days of intense meetings is different that mundane corporate America meetings with another 20 years of them starting at you in the face until you can retire.

 

[Larry44]

Yeah, but don’t have the energy and excitement of a teenager anymore? And 3 days of intense meetings is different that mundane corporate America meetings with another 20 years of them starting at you in the face until you can retire.

Yep, you can sit through 32 interviews in 3 days in order to get drafted and sign a contract that will make you an guaranteed millionaire if you can play 2 seasons in the NHL. #WorthIt

 

[SI90]

The combine coverage sucks. NHL needs to step their game with interviews and shit like that.

 

[Brodeur]

I feel especially for the kids whose native languages aren't English. I know firsthand how draining it can be to keep up a high-level, high-stakes conversation in your second or third language. But maybe that's also a small part of the evaluation process for those kids.

Gare Joyce had a good chunk around combine interviews in his book "Future Greats and Heartbreaks" where he got to ride shotgun with Columbus for 2006 and 2007. I think they'd typically have a scout who speaks the prospect's native language conduct the interview if he's not comfortable speaking in English. Naturally some of the answers might get lost in translation to a degree. Sometimes it's not even what a prospect says but how he says it that could make the impression. Vaguely recall that Columbus interviewed a Czech prospect who did the interview through their Czech scout and the impression that was left was how robotic he was.

On the flip side, Derick Brassard wasn't 100% fluent but his personality came across well and Columbus seemed to genuinely appreciate that he knew their roster and was otherwise engaged during the interview.

 

[viper0220]

After the combine, how do we all feel about the rankings? What does everyone think about the 2025 prospects.

 

[King'sPawn]

The combine coverage sucks. NHL needs to step their game with interviews and shit like that.

There's no discussion of even the most absurd interview questions, like "if you had to choose which animal to eat you alive, who would you pick?"

Would also be nice to know the interview schedule.

 

[STL fan in MN]

After the combine, how do we all feel about the rankings? What does everyone think about the 2025 prospects.

3 more days of the Combine left, including all of the fitness tests and official measurements.

 

[Hockeyfrilla]

Djurgården has 5 players at the combine.

Frondell, Eklund, Nilson, Stockselius & Drott. Must be a record for a euro club?

 

[Chainshot]

There's no discussion of even the most absurd interview questions, like "if you had to choose which animal to eat you alive, who would you pick?"

Would also be nice to know the interview schedule.

A couple of Western New York regular posters have dropped off over the years. We used to get information on who they would see out and about interviewing over dinner with certain teams. That was how we knew Chicago had fallen in love with Dach - he spent an evening with them at a local eatery.

 

[STL fan in MN]

A couple of Western New York regular posters have dropped off over the years. We used to get information on who they would see out and about interviewing over dinner with certain teams. That was how we knew Chicago had fallen in love with Dach - he spent an evening with them at a local eatery.

So you’re saying the fans in Buffalo are so despondent these days that now it’s impacting the rest of us?

Terry Pegula ruins everything!

 

[Chainshot]

So you’re saying the fans in Buffalo are so despondent these days that now it’s impacting the rest of us?

Terry Pegula ruins everything!

I’ve talked to a couple of the beat reporters who should be out covering this and there’s so much rancor among the readers and viewers that they don’t bother. So yeah, he does ruin everything.

 

[coooldude]

I’ve talked to a couple of the beat reporters who should be out covering this and there’s so much rancor among the readers and viewers that they don’t bother. So yeah, he does ruin everything.

Last two years, we got a lot of dinner and "crush" rumors, but I think they come later in the week once media and insiders have had more chances to talk to players and each other.