The 2025 NHL Scouting Combine recently concluded in Buffalo, featuring a different format this year. With the draft itself being decentralized – team personnel will be at their own headquarters while the event takes place in Los Angeles – executives missed the usual opportunities to dine with prospects, meet their families, and conduct final evaluations during draft week. As a result, the traditional fitness testing, meetings, and interview process in Buffalo gained added significance.
The combine format has evolved significantly over the past decade. Teams utilize private suites at KeyBank Center for interviews, with players rotating through rooms in 15-minute slots – a process one player humorously dubbed the `interrogation gauntlet`. This serves as the initial face-to-face interaction between prospects and senior team executives, typically including the general manager and the assistant GM overseeing scouting. Throughout the season, area scouts gather information and send questionnaires, so combine interviews focus on deeper evaluations rather than initial introductions.
Traditionally, teams take a few top prospects out for dinner during draft week and meet with others. Players usually don`t attend dinners with teams unlikely to draft them. For instance, top-ranked prospect Matthew Schaefer was unlikely to meet with most teams, focusing primarily on the New York Islanders and San Jose Sharks, who hold the first two picks.
Prospects like James Hagens and Porter Martone likely met with several teams projected to pick within their range. Notably, the Islanders hosted Schaefer, Michael Misa, and Hagens for dinner during combine week. Had the draft been centralized, further dinner meetings would likely have occurred.
Interestingly, Chicago, holding the third pick, did not conduct any dinner meetings – a deliberate strategic choice. Speculation surrounds whether the Blackhawks plan to host players in Chicago or visit them closer to the draft. Their approach became a point of discussion among other teams. This move echoes the Philadelphia Flyers` strategy last season when they skipped a dinner with Jett Luchanko before drafting him, reportedly to avoid signaling their interest to rivals.
James Hagens also dined with the Utah Mammoth (picking fourth) and participated in a remarkable 16 interviews overall, a wide range for a player expected to be drafted early. If Hagens is still available outside the top five, teams might consider trading up, viewing him as a potential value pick after third overall. Utah also met with Jake O`Brien and Brady Martin, although their fourth pick is reportedly available for trade.
Should the Islanders select Schaefer first overall, as widely anticipated, and Hagens remains available at pick No. 4, there are whispers that the Islanders might attempt to trade up for him. One rumored scenario involves the Islanders offering multiple early-round picks. Adding fuel to this speculation, Hagens has publicly stated his dream is to win a Stanley Cup with the Islanders.
The Flyers conducted extensive meetings, including with O`Brien, Martin, and Porter Martone. Their organizational need for a center is well-known, positioning them to potentially draft one with the sixth pick. While Martone is a winger, his size and tenacious style could appeal to Philadelphia. The Flyers also interviewed numerous goaltending prospects, reflecting uncertainty at the position, showing interest in players like Joshua Ravensbergen, Jack Ivankovic, Alexei Medvedev, and Semyon Frolov. With three first-round picks (including selections at No. 22 from Colorado and No. 31 or 32 from Edmonton), drafting a goalie in the first round is a distinct possibility for the Flyers.
The Vancouver Canucks hosted Braden Cootes for dinner and are believed to have thoroughly evaluated Roger McQueen. Their need for a center is well-documented, and the absence of GM Patrik Allvin at the combine raised eyebrows, leading to speculation that the 15th pick might be used to acquire immediate help via trade. Similarly, the Columbus Blue Jackets are rumored to be exploring trading some of their draft capital for current roster improvements.
Brady Martin`s draft stock appears to be surging, partly fueled by Sam Bennett`s impactful playoff performance with the Florida Panthers. Projected by some as a 12th to 15th overall pick, Martin is now rumored to potentially go as high as fourth. He models his game after players like Bennett, Matthew Knies, and Tom Wilson. The prevailing belief is that he won`t fall past Boston at No. 7, potentially pushing prospects like Martone, O`Brien, and McQueen later in the draft than expected. While some scouts are drawn to his raw potential, others see him as a second-line energy player. The decision to draft for a specific player type early, like a potential “next Sam Bennett,” comes with risks of passing over prospects with higher overall ceilings.
Some interesting anecdotes emerged from the team interviews. The Pittsburgh Penguins, under Kyle Dubas, incorporated video analysis, showing prospects clips and quizzing them on their decisions, vision, and what they anticipated happening next. This method assesses a player`s hockey IQ and self-belief when reflecting on their plays.
Known for their unconventional questions, the Montreal Canadiens reportedly asked players what they would do if stranded in a desert with another person, a bottle of water, and a baseball bat, and the other person refused to share the water. The Ottawa Senators took a lighter approach, asking players to tell a joke to gauge their personality and ability to think quickly. Other teams reportedly asked questions like what animal a player would be.
Players who reportedly impressed executives during interviews include Brady Martin, Anton Frondell, and Caleb Desnoyers. All three were described as engaging, which could significantly boost their stock. Desnoyers has been steadily climbing draft boards, although he couldn`t participate in fitness testing due to wrist injuries sustained during the season.
Regarding injuries, Roger McQueen`s back was a focus, with significant concern about its potential to be a recurring issue despite being a fracture rather than a muscle injury. One executive suggested he`d be in contention for the second overall pick if not for the injury concern. However, McQueen completed the combine testing without apparent issues, stated he felt 100%, and impressively performed nine pull-ups, nearly hitting a tenth. This performance, particularly the pull-ups which engage back muscles, is believed to have alleviated some concerns.
Will Horcoff demonstrated exceptional explosiveness, setting a combine record in the standing long jump and finishing first in the no-arm vertical jump. While these tests don`t directly measure skating, they indicate strong muscular potential. The son of Shawn Horcoff was already rising on draft boards and significantly helped his case with his fitness results and interviews.
Lingering scout questions about Anton Frondell`s fitness were largely answered by his performance, including one of the best VO2 max test results alongside Cole Reschny.
Mason West, a notable dual-sport athlete from Minnesota, officially declared his focus on hockey. The high school quarterback, measuring 6-foot-6¼, is considered one of the draft`s more intriguing prospects. Many believe multi-sport athletes benefit from delayed specialization, developing broader athleticism, coordination, reaction skills, and functional strength. Given his size and raw talent, West is a player to watch early on Day 2 of the draft.
Beyond the standard combine events, the decentralized draft added another layer of complexity. The draft floor is typically a hub for trade discussions, which won`t happen this year. The prevalent feeling is that much of this groundwork was laid at the combine, as it was the only opportunity for GMs to gather in one location before the draft. This made GM Allvin`s absence particularly curious, given the Canucks` goals and potential involvement in major trade talks.
The combine attracted not only GMs but also major agents. The concentration of hockey world figures in Buffalo led to a strong sense that significant groundwork for potential trades and even free-agent signings (despite tampering rules) was established over the past week.
One thing is certain: the “silly season” has arrived, and first-round draft picks are unlikely to be the only major transactions in the coming weeks.
Gareth Tenby