The 2025 NHL Scouting Combine recently concluded in Buffalo, taking on particular importance this year. With the draft being decentralized – teams will operate from their home bases while the event is held in Los Angeles – executives lost the traditional opportunity for extensive in-person interactions, dinner meetings, and family introductions during draft week. Consequently, the combine became the primary, crucial venue for fitness evaluations, team interviews, and prospect meetings.
The interview process itself is often described as an intense “interrogation gauntlet.” Prospects rotate through 15-minute sessions in private team suites at KeyBank Center, meeting directly with senior executives like the General Manager and heads of scouting for the first time. Teams leverage their scouting knowledge gained throughout the season to make these brief meetings impactful and focused.
The decentralized format also influenced how teams handled prospect dinners. Top-ranked prospects like Matthew Schaefer (widely projected at #1) primarily met with the teams most likely to select them (the Islanders and Sharks, picking first and second). Players like James Hagens and Porter Martone focused on teams within their anticipated draft range. The Islanders notably hosted dinners with Schaefer, Michael Misa, and Hagens. Interestingly, Chicago, holding the third pick, chose not to host any dinners, a strategic decision that reportedly generated buzz among other clubs. This tactic echoes past examples, like the Flyers avoiding dinner with Jett Luchanko before drafting him, possibly to avoid signaling interest.
James Hagens had a notably busy schedule, interviewing with 16 teams and dining with Utah (picking fourth). Speculation exists that if Hagens falls to the fourth spot, the Islanders might attempt to trade up, potentially offering multiple early-round picks, especially given Hagens` stated dream of winning a Stanley Cup with New York.
The Philadelphia Flyers (picking sixth, plus #22 and #31/32) cast a wide net, meeting with centers Jake O’Brien, Brady Martin, and winger Porter Martone, addressing their clear need down the middle. Martone’s size and physical style reportedly piqued their interest. The Flyers also conducted numerous interviews with goalies, including Joshua Ravensbergen, Jack Ivankovic, Alexei Medvedev, and Semyon Frolov, reflecting uncertainty at that position and the possibility of drafting a netminder with one of their three first-round selections.
Team strategies regarding draft picks and potential trades were a hot topic. The Vancouver Canucks (picking 15th) are known to need a center. GM Patrik Allvin`s absence from the combine raised eyebrows and fueled speculation that the 15th pick might be used in a trade for immediate roster help. Similarly, the Columbus Blue Jackets are rumored to be open to trading draft capital for current impact players.
Several players experienced shifts in their draft projections based on combine performance. Brady Martin`s stock appears to be significantly rising, potentially pushing him into the top 10 (with Boston at #7 frequently mentioned). Comparisons to Sam Bennett, fueled partly by Bennett`s playoff success and Martin`s own stated admiration for players like Bennett, Matthew Knies, and Tom Wilson, contribute to this upward trend. Scouts debate his ultimate ceiling, seeing potential for either a high-impact forward or a valuable second-line `pest`. Drafting him high involves balancing this potential against the risk of passing on players with different profiles.
Beyond physical testing, interview approaches varied. Pittsburgh utilized video analysis, quizzing players on specific on-ice decisions to gauge hockey sense and confidence – a method associated with Kyle Dubas. Ottawa took a lighthearted approach by asking players to tell a joke. Montreal, known for unique questions, presented a hypothetical survival scenario in the desert. Other teams employed creative questions, like asking players what animal they`d be.
Among players who particularly impressed in interviews were Brady Martin, Anton Frondell, and Caleb Desnoyers, noted for their engaging personalities. Desnoyers, despite not participating in physical testing due to a wrist injury, has seen his draft stock steadily climb.
Fitness testing also proved significant, particularly for Roger McQueen. Concerns about a recurring back injury were a major factor potentially affecting his draft position (some suggested he`d be a top-two candidate without the injury). However, McQueen completed all testing without issue, stated he felt 100% healthy, and performed well, notably achieving 9 pull-ups (almost 10) – a test that reflects back strength. This performance is believed to have eased some team worries, potentially keeping him from falling past the early teens.
Will Horcoff (son of former NHLer Shawn Horcoff) showcased exceptional athleticism, setting a combine record in the standing long jump and finishing first in the no-arm vertical jump. These results, while not direct measures of skating, highlight his explosiveness and physical potential, further boosting his already climbing draft stock.
Anton Frondell`s strong performance on the VO2 max test helped alleviate lingering scout questions about his conditioning.
Mason West, a prominent dual-sport athlete (high school football quarterback), confirmed his commitment to hockey. Measuring 6-foot-6¼, his size and multi-sport background are seen as valuable assets, suggesting transferable athleticism, coordination, and functional strength. He is viewed as an intriguing raw prospect likely to be watched closely early on Day 2 of the draft.
Aside from player evaluations, the combine served as a critical hub for trade discussions. Without the typical draft floor environment for spontaneous conversations, the gathering of GMs and major agents in Buffalo became the primary opportunity for significant dialogue. The prevailing sentiment was that substantial groundwork for potential trades and even early free agent talks (despite official tampering rules) was laid during the combine week. The “silly season” has officially begun, and draft picks may only be the first of many significant roster moves in the weeks leading up to the draft and free agency.
