The 2025 NHL scouting combine recently concluded in Buffalo, featuring a unique format this year. With the draft itself being decentralized – team personnel will be at their own headquarters while the event happens in Los Angeles – executives missed their usual opportunities during draft week to share meals with prospects, meet their families, or conduct last-minute evaluations before draft night. Consequently, the combine in Buffalo served as the primary venue for fitness testing, meetings, and interviews.
The combine structure has seen significant changes over the last decade. Teams now conduct interviews in private suites at the KeyBank Center, with players rotating through 15-minute sessions – a process one player once described as an “interrogation gauntlet.” This event marks the first time many players interact directly with team executives, typically including the general manager and the assistant GM overseeing scouting. Throughout the season, area scouts conduct initial interviews or send questionnaires, so by the time teams decide whom to interview at the combine, they already possess foundational knowledge about the prospect, allowing them to bypass small talk.
Traditionally, teams might take three or four players out for dinner during draft week and hold additional meetings. Prospects are unlikely to attend dinners with teams outside their expected draft range. For instance, top-ranked prospect Matthew Schaefer wouldn`t realistically dine with teams picking late and likely only needed to meet extensively with the New York Islanders and San Jose Sharks, holding the first and second overall picks.
Prospects like James Hagens and Porter Martone likely met with several teams expected to select within their range. Notably, the Islanders reportedly took Schaefer, Michael Misa, and Hagens out for dinner during the combine week. Had the draft been held centrally, further dinner meetings, possibly including families, might have occurred.
More intriguingly, Chicago, holding the third pick, chose not to host any dinner meetings. This decision is seen as strategic by their leadership. Perhaps the Blackhawks intend to fly players to Chicago or visit them later during draft week? Their approach sparked considerable discussion among other teams. The Philadelphia Flyers famously skipped a dinner opportunity with Jett Luchanko last season before drafting him, a move speculated to avoid signaling their interest prematurely. Chicago`s strategy might be similar.
Hagens also reportedly dined with the Utah Mammoth (picking fourth) and participated in 16 team interviews overall – a surprisingly wide range for a player projected to go very early. If Hagens were to slip beyond the top five, some speculate a team might trade up to acquire him, viewing him as a significant value pick after third overall. Utah also met with Jake O`Brien and Brady Martin, although there are rumors their fourth pick could be available for trade.
Should the Islanders select Schaefer first overall (as widely predicted) and Hagens remains available at fourth, some sources suggest the Islanders might attempt a trade to acquire that pick as well. One rumored deal involves the Islanders offering multiple early-round selections to move up. This aligns with Hagens` expressed dream of winning a Stanley Cup with the Islanders.
The Flyers conducted wide-ranging interviews, including with O`Brien, Martin, and Porter Martone. Their clear need for a center is well-known, and they are in a position to draft one with the sixth pick. Martone is primarily a winger, but his size and gritty style are qualities that would interest the Flyers. Given their goaltending situation, the Flyers also met with numerous goalies at the combine, showing interest in Joshua Ravensbergen, Jack Ivankovic, Alexei Medvedev, and Semyon Frolov. With three first-round picks (their own at No. 6, Colorado`s at No. 22, and Edmonton`s at No. 31 or 32), it`s plausible they could use one to select a netminder.
The Canucks reportedly took Braden Cootes to dinner and have conducted extensive research on Roger McQueen. Their organizational need for a center is well-documented, and the conspicuous absence of GM Patrik Allvin at the combine raised eyebrows, leading many to believe their 15th pick might be used in a trade for immediate help at center. Similarly, there`s speculation that the Columbus Blue Jackets are also looking to move draft capital for immediate roster improvements.
Brady Martin`s draft stock has seen a significant rise, fueled partly by comparisons to Sam Bennett`s recent playoff performance. Although typically ranked 12th to 15th, the prospect known for his unique farm-based training regimen is now rumored to potentially go as high as fourth overall. When asked about players he models his game after, Martin cited Bennett, Matthew Knies, and Tom Wilson.
The consensus among some scouts is that Martin won`t fall past Boston at seventh overall, potentially pushing prospects like Martone, O`Brien, and McQueen down the board. Some scouts appreciate Martin`s raw potential, while others view him as a second-line irritant. If a team genuinely believes he can develop into the next Sam Bennett, selecting him in the top 10 could be justified, though caution exists regarding drafting based on a specific player type rather than a prospect`s overall ceiling.
The combine also produced some entertaining interview stories. The Pittsburgh Penguins, under Kyle Dubas, used video extensively in their meetings. They played clips of each player and paused them, quizzing the prospect on their next action, decision-making process, and what they observed during the play. Sources familiar with Dubas`s methods from his time with the Leafs note this technique is used to gauge a player`s hockey IQ and their confidence when explaining their in-game choices.
The Ottawa Senators took a lighter approach, asking players to tell a joke – a way to assess their ability to think quickly and potentially identify locker-room personalities. Known for their unusual questions, the Montreal Canadiens reportedly asked players what they would do if stranded in the desert with another person, a bottle of water, and a baseball bat, specifically if the other person refused to share the water. Other teams inquired about what type of animal a player thought they would be.
Based on interviews, Brady Martin, Anton Frondell, and Caleb Desnoyers reportedly left strong impressions on NHL executives. Their engaging conversations likely boosted their profiles. Desnoyers has steadily climbed draft boards, although he did not participate in physical testing due to wrist injuries sustained during the season.
Regarding injuries, attention was focused on Roger McQueen during fitness testing due to concerns about a recurring back issue, although it was clarified as a fracture rather than muscular. One executive stated McQueen would be considered for the second overall pick if not for the injury concerns.
Despite concerns, McQueen completed the combine testing without apparent issue and told teams he felt completely healthy. He performed nine pull-ups, nearly reaching a tenth, a feat involving back muscles, which is believed to have alleviated some worries regarding his injury.
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 speed, they indicate his muscular potential and athleticism. Horcoff, the son of former NHLer Shawn Horcoff, was already rising on draft boards and further helped his cause with strong testing numbers and interviews.
Any lingering questions about Anton Frondell`s fitness were largely dismissed by his performance, including one of the best scores on the VO2 max test, alongside Cole Reschny.
Mason West, a prominent dual-sport athlete from Minnesota (hockey and football quarterback), declared his commitment to pursuing hockey. Measuring 6-foot-6¼, West is considered one of the draft`s most intriguing prospects. Many believe multi-sport athletes thrive after specializing due to their broader athletic foundation, potentially leading to better coordination, reaction skills, and functional strength. Given West`s size and raw talent, he is a player to watch early on Day 2 of the draft.
Beyond the standard combine activities, the decentralized draft format added another layer of complexity. The draft floor is traditionally a hub for trade discussions and chatter. This year, with teams separated, it`s widely believed that much of this dialogue occurred at the combine, as it was the only pre-draft opportunity for general managers to gather in one city. This makes GM Allvin`s absence even more curious, especially considering the Canucks` goals and potential role in significant trade activity.
Not only were many GMs present, but nearly all major agents also attended. The combine in Buffalo became a central meeting point for key figures in the hockey world, leading to the strong feeling that substantial groundwork was laid for potential trades and free agent signings (despite tampering rules) over the past week.
One certainty is that the “silly season” has begun, and first-round draft picks are likely just one piece of the major roster moves expected in the coming weeks.
Rupert Hartwell