This isn't Taylor vs. Tyler. Rather, this is a group of prospects cherishing the adventure, navigating it together as they embark on the uncertainty that is Friday's NHL Draft. They've come to enjoy their time, binding each media round they make.
"It's been awesome," said Dobson, the Acadie-Bathurst Titan defender and 2018 Memorial Cup champion. "It's kind of nice to be able to get close to them since they're in the same shows as you are."
Bouchard and Matthew Tkachuk, brother to draft-eligible Brady, were on the same London Knights squad in 2015-16. Because of that, it's been easy for Bouchard to get to know the youngest Tkachuk and the rest of the players.
"We've created good bonds now," Bouchard, who had 25 goals and 87 points in 67 games this season, said. "Knowing Tkachuk (Brady) a little bit from his brother playing in London and getting to meet the other guys has been pretty cool."
Some of the players have forged friendships over gaming, dropping into Fortnite maps like they get dropped into media scrums. They tackle events together in groups like they do battle royales, without hostility or envy when it comes to who goes where and why - given that each player is gifted and clueless about where they could end up.
"I'm not a big video gamer but I know some of the guys are big Fortnite players," Dobson continued. "It's pretty fun off the ice. We've had a fun time in Washington at the Stanley Cup Final and here today, seeing some of the things. It's been great just to get to know them."
The players themselves are already built into the EA Sports NHL video game franchise and in a few years will be living it as reality.
"I grew up playing a bit of NHL," said Dobson. I've never been a big video game guy but I always get snap chats or pictures of my buddies back home playing with me on the NHL console. It's cool to see and great to have that."
