NHL Draft: Who increased and decreased their value after the Combine?

NHL Scouting Combine 2025 Analysis: Team Perspectives and Strategies

The 2025 NHL Scouting Combine, recently held in Buffalo, presented a decentralized format that modified the usual dynamics of the event. With team personnel operating from their own headquarters, dinners with prospects and their families, as well as additional pre-draft evaluations, were eliminated. Despite these changes, physical tests and interviews were maintained, offering teams new opportunities to evaluate players. The decentralization of the draft, with teams operating from their own headquarters, has drastically changed the way the process is carried out. Teams set up their interviews in executive suites, and players rotate every 15 minutes, a process that one player described as a “relentless interrogation.” This is the first time that players meet with team executives, including their general managers and assistants. The decentralization of the draft has drastically changed the way the process is carried out.

Traditionally, teams invite several prospects to dinner during draft week. Teams that have no chance of selecting a player are unlikely to invite them to dinner. For example, number one prospect, Matthew Schaefer, will not have dinner with the Tampa Lightning, Edmonton Oilers, or Colorado Avalanche. Players like James Hagens or Porter Martone could have several dinners with teams interested in selecting them.

The Chicago team, with the third overall pick, chose not to invite anyone to dinner, a calculated decision that generated speculation. They might be considering inviting players to Chicago, visiting their hometowns, or even traveling to Los Angeles during draft week. This approach is reminiscent of the Philadelphia Flyers’ strategy, who avoided inviting Jett Luchanko to dinner before selecting him, so as not to alert other teams. James Hagens, for his part, dined with the Utah team, which has the fourth pick, and was interviewed by a total of 16 teams. If Hagens is not selected in the top five, a team could try to move up in the draft to select him. Utah also had meetings with Jake O’Brien and Brady Martin, but it is rumored that their fourth pick could be available for a trade. The Flyers, with the sixth pick, have a particular interest in a center and met with several goalies, including Joshua Ravensbergen, Jack Ivankovic, Alexei Medvedev, and Semyon Frolov. With three first-round picks, including those of the Avs and Oilers, they could select the goalie they want. The Vancouver Canucks invited Braden Cootes to dinner and showed great interest in Roger McQueen. The absence of General Manager Patrik Allvin at the combine generated surprise, suggesting they might use their number 15 selection to acquire a center through a trade. Brady Martin has gained a lot of attention, and it is rumored that he could be selected as high as number 4. Martin is inspired by Sam Bennett, Matthew Knies, and Tom Wilson. If he is not selected before the seventh position, players like Martone, O’Brien, and McQueen could be available later in the draft. Some scouts see his potential as a second-tier player.

The publication features Brady Martin, who is inspired by Sam Bennett, Matthew Knies, and Tom Wilson. The Pittsburgh Penguins used videos in their meetings, showing clips of the players and asking them about their decisions in the game. The Ottawa Senators asked the players to tell a joke, while the Montreal Canadiens posed unusual questions. Anton Frondell, Caleb Desnoyers, and Martin impressed NHL executives with their conversational skills. Desnoyers, who did not participate in the tests due to an injury, has climbed the draft rankings. Roger McQueen, with concerns about his back, might be selected later than expected. He completed the physical tests and claimed to be completely healthy. Will Horcoff excelled in the physical tests, setting a record in the long jump and leading the no-arm vertical jump, demonstrating his athletic potential. Anton Frondell demonstrated his physical ability, obtaining the best result in the VO2 Max test. Mason West, a multi-sport athlete, has decided to dedicate himself to hockey. His size and raw talent make him an interesting prospect to follow in the draft.

Mason West, a star in multiple sports, has committed to hockey, but is still a developing prospect. The decentralization of the combine has moved many trade and potential signing discussions to the event itself. The absence of Patrik Allvin generated speculation about the future of the Canucks. The presence of important agents suggests that the groundwork was laid for potential trades and free agent signings. The draft season is underway, and strategic moves are likely to go beyond first-round picks in the coming weeks.