Whose Draft Stock Rose / Declined At Scouting Combine?

[TBone]

Whose NHL draft stock rose, declined at the scouting combine?

Rachel Doerrie
Jun 11, 2025, 12:00 PM

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Usually, teams take three or four players out for dinner during draft week and will meet with several others of interest. Players are unlikely to be asked to dinner by teams who have no chance of taking them. No. 1-ranked prospect Matthew Schaefer isn't going to dine with the Tampa Lightning, Edmonton Oilers or Colorado Avalanche, for instance, and frankly, probably doesn't need to meet with anyone besides the New York Islanders and San Jose Sharks, picking first and second.

For players like James Hagens or Porter Martone, they may have four to five meals with teams in the range to select them. For what it's worth, the Isles took Schaefer, Michael Misa and Hagens to dinner during combine week. Had the draft been centralized, it is likely they would have met again over a meal in Los Angeles, along with their families.

More interesting, Chicago, who owns the third overall pick, did not take anyone to dinner. Given the decentralized draft, that is certainly a calculated decision from their brass. Perhaps they plan to invite players to Chicago, fly to the hometowns of players of interest, or fly to Los Angeles during draft week? No one knows, but their strategy caused some conversation among other teams' personnel. The Philadelphia Flyers famously avoided taking Jett Luchanko to dinner last season before drafting him, so as to not raise alarm bells with other teams. Perhaps Chicago is taking a page out of that book.

https://www.espn.co.uk/nhl/story/_/id/4 ... ayers-buzz

[TBone]

NHL draft combine notes: Top prospects, wild cards, more

By Kristen Shilton
Jun 10, 2025

That was the refrain at this year's NHL scouting combine about the upcoming draft. While a group of 90 prospective NHLers were put through their paces with interviews, dinners and fitness testing, scouts and executives alike marveled at what could be an unpredictable first round when it comes down to making selections on June 27 and 28.

"There are maybe 16 or 18 players I could see going in the top 10," one scout said. "It's one of those classes. Deep. Great character guys. Lots of these players have unique skill sets. Teams will have tough decisions to make."

Another executive pointed out that there's an "embarrassment of riches" at the forward positions for clubs with high selections. So, while Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer may look like a consensus No. 1 overall selection for the New York Islanders, what happens from there? Intrigue!

"The internal conversations have been heated," the executive joked.

One name that came up plenty as a potential wild card? Carter Bear.

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/454 ... ree-agency

[Pierre McGuire]

Really hoping the Flyers land Martin.

[aslord]

Really hoping the Flyers land Martin.

why? You have a grudge against him?

[Hockey Pete]

Really hoping the Flyers land Martin.

why? You have a grudge against him?

LOL, poor Flyer's fans...

Gotta appreciate Tim's steadfastness for an organization that keeps shooting itself in the foot.

That said, the "Broad Street Bullies" put the NHL on the map in the US, and kick-started the NHL into what it is today. Their TV and attendance records fueled the expansion of 74 and the NHL never looked back...

And in the coaching world, Freddie "The Fog" Shero changed EVERYTHING; First to deploy offensive and defensive systems, first to hire a full-time assistant coach, first to hire a full-time European scout, etc... Herb (Brooks) always used Freddie's quote when the Flyer's players were catching serious heat from the media and opposing fans, "If you say nothing and do nothing, then you'll be nothing", and then he'd follow it up with "Now go out and be something".

[Pierre McGuire]

Really hoping the Flyers land Martin.

why? You have a grudge against him?

LOL, poor Flyer's fans...

Gotta appreciate Tim's steadfastness for an organization that keeps shooting itself in the foot.

That said, the "Broad Street Bullies" put the NHL on the map in the US, and kick-started the NHL into what it is today. Their TV and attendance records fueled the expansion of 74 and the NHL never looked back...

And in the coaching world, Freddie "The Fog" Shero changed EVERYTHING; First to deploy offensive and defensive systems, first to hire a full-time assistant coach, first to hire a full-time European scout, etc... Herb (Brooks) always used Freddie's quote when the Flyer's players were catching serious heat from the media and opposing fans, "If you say nothing and do nothing, then you'll be nothing", and then he'd follow it up with "Now go out and be something".

Love the Flyers….always been my 2nd favorite team.

[Hockey Pete]

Back to the OP (had to real-life stuff for awhile)...

NHL teams are looking for three things at any combine;

First, are the big kids just big, or is there strength and speed there as well. IMO combine results REALLY come into play for kids in rounds 2/3, as now you're looking at checking roles and possible 2nd/3rd pairing defenders. Can this 6'3" kid keep up? Yeah he's only 5-10, but man is that kid built...

Second, RUSSIANS... They are notorious at high-skill level with little motivation (Filatov comes to mind), and low motivation shows up at the combine. If you're in poor shape with little strength, you'll drop like a stone on most draft boards, regardless of skill.

Finally, crazy interviews. Not well known is the GM rumor mill when someone has an interview that went sideways, especially if it happens more than once. Believe it or not, but there were some agents in the past that totally prepped their clients poorly, and it cost them on draft day.

Just my 2-cents...