The Combine continues on, as each team zeroes in with their interviews. Some players have even been blogging about their Combine experiences on NHL.com – Scott Mayfield being one of them. If you didn’t get a chance, check out my first entry on the Combine for some fine points on what is going on in good ol’ T’ranna. This year is a year the Combine should be a bit more important than in previous years with so many players being so close in the rankings.
• Ryan Strome met with eight teams in total; Florida, Minnesota, Buffalo, Ottawa, Colorado, San Jose, Atlanta (they were called that yesterday – not Winnipeg/Manitoba). He’s also been assigned to bunk with Sarnia forward, Brett Ritchie; Dougie Hamilton is bunked with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
• Matt Puempel is still rehabbing his hip after surgery. While he’s skating, he won’t be taking part in any of the physical testing.
• Duncan Siemens has 26 interviews—the Colorado Avalanche are one of them.
• Nathan Beaulieu has made sure to mention fellow Sea Dog and Draft-Eligible, Ryan Tesink in each interview. Don’t really know why. But Tesink is a Leafs fan. (Thanks to @mike_morreale for this one)
• One of the invitees was asked “Would you rather own a gun or read a poem?” Again... no clue why or who.
• Jonathan Huberdeau arrived right before noon, and immediately began interviews. He and his teammates were in Saint John until last night celebrating and partying their Memorial Cup win.
• J.T. Miller met with Calgary first, as well as Atlanta, Toronto, Minnesota, Chicago, NYI, Nashville, Carolina, Washington, San Jose and New Jersey. He’s meeting with Detroit, Philadelphia, Columbus, Pittsburgh, NYR, St. Louis, Buffalo and Florida today. Tampa, Anaheim and Edmonton all lined up for Thursday, as well as a follow up with the Blackhawks.
• Rocco Grimaldi and J.T. Miller are bunking together, but John Gibson seems to around them a lot. Miller and Gibson are both from the Pittsburgh area and good friends.
• Shane Prince met with both Vancouver and Boston today.
• Funny story on the radio with J.T. Miller today. Lists goats as his biggest fear, and had a traumatic experience with them at a petting zoo when he was younger. Had a laugh out of that one.
Testing will be going on through the night. I’ll update late tonight with more news and tidbits.
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