It's become a week-long event that sees the draft-eligible prospects run through a series of physical tests to see how they stack up now and how they might project in the future. A lot is made of the results of this event but the current results aren't always the most important takeaway.
These 17 and 18-year-old kids may have some struggles with certain tests, such as the grueling Wingate bike test, but NHL teams are looking to see how they can project in the future and their physical acumen is a big part of that. Does the player have the ability to add more strength in the future and figuring out how they will do so in the future, are some of the more important things that teams are looking at.
Another angle that generally gets overlooked is the ability for teams to assess why a certain player has a certain weakness. If the scouting staff has determined that a player lacks acceleration on the ice, the NHL Draft Combine allows them to see if it's a strength issue and if it can be corrected once the prospect fully matures within their development system. If they can figure out that the perceived flaw is a correctable issue, it can cause a player to rise above some others.
Without a doubt, there is value in the rigorous testing that the players have to go through but the interview process with team executives may hold more weight.
Throughout the season, a player may meet with a regional scout to discuss some things, but the Draft Combine allows teams to put the prospects under the microscope a bit to figure out who they are as a person. All of the NHL teams have come up with a series of questions to understand their thought processes, their ability to reflect and recollect their actions on the ice and try to project how the might fit into their locker room.
Sometimes, the personality aspect can be a deciding factor for teams hoping to build a team through the draft.
With all that in mind, the Canucks executive team will make their way to Buffalo this week to help determine who might be the best fit to join the emerging youth core that they expect to play in Vancouver soon. You never know what will happen over the next few weeks, so due diligence is needed to make sure that you can collect as much information and notes about as many prospects as possible.
It's a tough week for everyone involved but a fantastic event that puts the spotlight on some of the future stars of the NHL.
With the organization possessing the 7th overall selection, here are some players to keep an eye on this week:
