The Pegula family and the Buffalo Sabres organization has redefined the NHL Scouting Combine. In the past two years of hosting this special event, the Sabres have added tremendous value, exposure, and equity to the scouting combine brand.
Before Buffalo got it's hands on the NHL Scouting Combine, it was hosted in a downtown Toronto hotel ballroom like a "get rich quick" seminar would be. The scene was crowded, disjointed, and very confusing to the participants and to the media. Nothing about the Toronto model screamed "hockey". It was a mess. From a draft prospect standpoint, it was a "bust".
Not so in Buffalo where the event has undergone a dramatic metamorphosis.
Today, the Pegulas and the Sabres are very serious abut wanting to keep the event in Buffalo on a long term basis.
NHL Central Scouting Director Dan Marr said Friday negotiations are ongoing for a new long term agreement to keep the combine in Buffalo. Marr tipped his poker hand several times when he spoke glowingly about the state-of-the-art HARBORCenter and it's ability to host the enormity of the what the combine has become.
The HARBORCenter features a brand new Marriott hotel, entertainment and hockey pad complex that adjoins the Sabres arena. Oh, by the way, there is a Timmy Ho's attached to the complex as well.
Auston Matthews told me that it is so cool to walk out of his hotel room, hit the elevator, eat breakfast, go for a workout, then rendezvous with some of his new friends and fellow NHL prospects without even having to step foot onto the streets of Buffalo.
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''We found the all-under-one-roof concept works,'' Marr said. ''We are going to sit down and talk to them and see what their interest level is. And then we'll go back and the National Hockey League will make its decision sooner than later as far as I hope.''
The Sabres are a natural fit to host the Scouting Combine because of the hundreds of thousands of square feet of real estate to work in. Also, the HARBORCenter is just a chip and a putt away from the Peace Bridge that connects Buffalo to Canada. The NHL rights holders north of the border, namely TSN, Sportsnet, TVA, RDS are thrilled at the ease of commuting back and forth to Buffalo from nearby Toronto. I have several friends who are scribes and reporters in Toronto who love working in Buffalo because it doesn't require an overnight stay nor a connecting airplane flight to another city.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are trying to lure the Scouting Combine to their new hockey complex, however, I foresee an issue with that because the Buffalo model is good as it gets. Besides, the Penguins cannot offer an "under one roof" templete.
The $200 million HARBORCenter complex is comprised of a 3,000-seat ice pad and arena, where league officials can view the player workouts. The complex features a 200-plus-room full-service hotel, which opened in September. There are ample amounts of meeting rooms and space for each team to confidentially interview draft eligible prospects.
One issue from the Sabres perspective in hosting the combine is cost.
According to the Associated Press, the closing move to earn Buffalo the event was that the Sabres offered to pay to host the event. In other words, they told the NHL to leave Toronto and "we will pay you to do so". The estimated cost costs to host the event is approximately $300,000. In Toronto, the NHL would scratch a check and pay for the costs of the event.
There is no ROI on Pegula's $300K investment because he cannot sell tickets to the event nor merchandise or parking. The event is for NHL dignitaries, the top 114 NHL draft eligible prospects, and the media. The fans are not allowed to participate, however, this could change in the future if the NHL decides to add an on ice component to the fitness testing.
If the Sabres have their way, and the have a ton of leverage right now, the NHL will be paying them to host the NHL Scouting Combine next year when the new multi-year contract kicks in.
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John Wawrow reports that the Sabres are no longer interested in hosting the NHL Winter Classic game on January 1, 2018, to coincide with an outdoor game set to be played during the 2018 World Junior Hockey championships the Sabres are hosting.
A person familiar with discussions told The Associated Press that the Sabres have dropped their interest in hosting the NHL's annual New Year's Day outdoor event because of logistics and scheduling issues. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the discussions are private.
The Sabres hosted the NHL's first Winter Classic at Ralph Wilson Stadium in 2008.
As part of their bid to USA Hockey to host the world juniors, the Sabres' plans include playing the tournament's first outdoor game. It would be a preliminary matchup between the United States and Canada and played at Ralph Wilson Stadium in the final week of December 2017.
The Sabres also entertained the idea of hosting the Winter Classic because the outdoor rink would already be in place.
Several conflicts emerged, the person said, including the NHL requiring exclusive access to the stadium several weeks in advance. The ice would have to be resurfaced and repainted to add logos and sponsors to meet NHL specifications.
Hosting both events would affect the NFL Bills, who are also owned by the Pegulas. The team would be forced to close the regular season with three consecutive road games, which is considered a disadvantage.
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I was a senior in high school the last time the Toronto Maple Leafs selected hellion on wheels Wendel Clark with the first overall pick at the 1985 NHL Entry Draft.
On June 24, the Leafs will have the honor of selecting first overall at the NHL Draft in Buffalo.
The Leafs haven't had a true number one center since Mats Sundin stabbed westward to Vancouver what seems like decades ago now.
Enter Auston Matthews, the odds on number one pick.
I, and approximately 70 media members had the pleasure of speaking with the Scottsdale, Arizona native on Friday.
Matthews wasn't rattled by the rapid fire questioning that he was faced with. He answered the questions thoughtfully. I like the kid's demeanor and his cooler than the other side of the pillow attitude.
Matthews didn't shy away from the question as to whether he can play the role of top pivot in the so called "center of the hockey universe".
“I think I can definitely be a number one centerman, a franchise centerman in the NHL,” Matthews said. “Like an Anze Kopitar, or Jonathan Toews. Those are two guys I really like to watch. I admire the way they compete.
“They’re leaders. They win. Two or three Stanley Cups each.”
Kopitar and Toews have paid their dues in the NHL. There were no shortcuts, nor cheat codes to find a back door portal to NHL greatness. They have made countless sacrifices in order to achieve their NHL dreams. Combined, Kopitar and Toews have enjoyed riding in five Stanley Cup victory parades. The Cup wins are the just desserts for their investment of blood, sweat, and tears.
Matthews did not shy away nor back pedal from the mental and physical demands of the NHL.
“If that were to happen, I definitely think I can handle that,” he said. “I think I’m physically and mentally strong. When it comes to that kind of stuff I think I could handle all that pressure.
“You block that stuff out. You focus on yourself. Do the little things that make you better. You just want to do your best. Obviously you want to be an impact player in the NHL. For whatever team, I consider myself an impact player.”
Toronto is a real high pressure cooker of a hockey market. Leafs fans want to win and make the playoffs again in the worst way. Matthews will be under intense scrutiny by the media and fans to perform at his A+ level at every practice and in every game.
Matthews will have his work cut out for himself in Toronto.
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I was a huge Patrik Laine fan before Friday. After speaking with him about his NHL aspirations, I have a whole new level of respect for the 18 year old sniper.
Laine has frozen ice water coursing through his veins. He is a superstar at age 18. He speaks with the confidence and swagger of Alex Ovechkin and Peter Forsberg. Laine is a rock star who is looking to dominate the best league in the world.
Laine started 2016 by winning the gold medal with Team Finland at the IIHF World Junior Championship.
Last month, Laine earned MVP honors at the IIHF World Championship in Russia. Finland lost to Canada in the gold medal game.
As a 17 year old playing with grown men, the Finnish Machine Gun scored 17 goals and 16 assists in 46 games for Tappara in the Finnish Elite League this season. He earned himself the league MVP award with 10 goals in 18 playoff games.
Dude has pedigree. He is a thoroughbred.
Don't dare tell him that he is going to be picked second overall behind Auston Matthews.
Laine told me that he thinks he is every bit as qualified to be selected first overall than Matthews is.
Laine says his work is done. There is nothing more that he can do to show Lou Lamoriello and the Maple Leafs that he is the number one draft eligible player in the world right now.
"I don’t know that I can do that much more now," Laine said. "It’s just interviews and a couple tests. I think I showed my skills during the season. I think I’ve done my work at the ice and they can now decide."
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Laine could not did not complete his Vo2Max bike test on Friday.
He will not be participating in the majority of fitness tests on Saturday.
Like he said, look at his body of work. He can't give GMs and scouts any more feats of strength than he already has.
"I couldn’t finish. I had a problem with my leg so I couldn't finish but I think it went pretty normal," Laine said. "I’m pretty OK. It’s just I don’t want to get hurt. I have an important summer I don’t want to miss that."
I wonder if Laine's leg is still injured after being slew footed by Canada's Corey Perry at the World Championships.
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I'm fascinated by Laine's booming slap shot.
I had to talk to him about it.
I speculated that Laine must practice his shot for hours on end.
"No. I haven't worked on my shot for years. I used to, but not now. It's not like I shoot 500 pucks per day. I just work on it in games".
Laine's slap shot must register at 125+ mph. He and Alex Ovechkin are the owners of badass slappers and they are not afraid to use their lethal weapons to slay opponents.
Finland has become a goalie factory with all of its tremendously gifted keepers that it continues to produce for NHL teams.
What's Laine's approach? Does he try to be coy with the goalie, who in Finland are in the 6'4" to 6'5" range these days.
"I have a good shot. I don't pick spots to shoot at. I just shoot the puck as hard as I can to beat the goalie", Laine said smiling.
Laine told me that he did not meet with the Buffalo Sabres at the Combine.
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I really enjoyed the conversation I had with London star Matt Tkachuk, who scored the OT GWG to give the Knights the Memorial Cup championship last Sunday.
Tkachuk says that its goal to play in the NHL next season. He said that he will get to work immediately working on sustaining his power during shifts on the ice. He wants to become more explosive and knows that he can achieve greatness when he does the work this summer.
Tkachuk told me that he has enjoyed his time in Buffalo and that the has been here before. Tkachuk's father Keith, the former NHL sniper, is best friends with former Sabres D-man and coach Teppo Numminen. Tkachuk and Numminen played together in Winnipeg and Phoenix. Matt told me that the Tkachuks and Numminens visit often and that he has spent time with Teppo and his family at his Buffalo area home.
Tkachuk didn't participate in fitness testing due to a sprained ankle.
In my opinion, Tkachuk is a perfect combination Corey Perry-Jamie Benn-Jeff Carter in terms of his skating, physicality, endurance and sniping skills. He can beat you with his fists, heavy body checks, his clapper, and his wicked wrister. If there is one area of his game that needs a tad bit of work is his power skating.
The London Knights power forward presently ranks #2 on the NHL Central Scouting final ranking of North American skaters eligible for the 2016 NHL Draft.
Tkachuk scored 20 goals and added 20 assists in 18 OHL Playoff games this spring. He also earned 42 PIMs. He popped five goals and three assists in four games at the Memorial Cup tourney after scoring 30 goals, 77 assists and 80 PIMs this season for the high octane Knights.
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Tkachuk told me that he had a "very good meeting" with Tim Murray and the Buffalo Sabres.
It just so happens that Murray is in the market right now for Jack Eichel's left winger, who is not on the Buffalo roster yet.
There is no denying the chatter about the Edmonton Oilers listening to offers for their fourth overall pick in the draft. That's the slot where where Tkachuk is expected to be selected just after Jesse Puljujarvi at #3 to Columbus.
How can Buffalo grab the 4th overall pick from Edmonton?
Murray would have to trade right D Mark Pysyk, an Edmnton Oil Kings alumnus, center/winger Zemgus Girgensons or Tyler Ennis (Edmonton native), and the 8th overall pick in the draft to Edmonton for #4.
The Oilers would invest the 8th overall pick in one of the top D available in Jakob Chychrun, Olli Juolevi, or Mikhail Sergachev. All three superior D are expected to be available in the 7-9 range of the first round.
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