The NHL draft combine is taking place in Buffalo this week and is set to wrap up later today. For those of you unfamiliar, it's the final chance for prospects and teams alike to make one final impression, testing strength, endurance, and among other things thought process. While teams watch the physical tests from afar and evaluate the prospects, they have the opportunity to interview and meet prospects face to face for potentially the first time.
The combine has given us some laughable moments in years past, such as Sam Bennett struggling to get one pull up as well as some very strange interview questions. Case in point, representatives from the Montreal Canadiens asked prospect Calle Odelius if he would pick up $10 off the toilet seat or $50 from the toilet at this year's combine. He chose the $50. I don't know about you, but if I'm reaching into or onto a toilet I am definitely not doing it for $10 if I have the option of $50, or if you're brave, the whole $60.
Reading deep into the question, it could be to see if the player is greedy and will be difficult to negotiate against or it could be to see how much they value the toilet seat shaped Habs logo. Another idea is that if they say $50 or $60, it shows that they don't mind getting their hands dirty and have their eye on the prize and will do anything it takes to get there.
Either way, some of the questions and physical tests that the players answer and go through are questionable in their relation to how it translates to their on ice performance. I'm surprised that the combine hasn't undergone some sort of change to make the testing more about on ice performance because as we've all seen before, you can be an animal in the gym, but be terrible on the ice. As for the Habs' question.. I'm sure there are better questions to ask to get the answer you're looking for, and the Habs are being shredded on social media since the report came out.
