Colorado Avalanche: A Look at the 2019 NHL Combine

The Colorado Avalanche, along with 30 other teams, will attend the 2019 NHL Combine to assess the physical and mental acuity of their future draftees.

Colorado Avalanche executives and scouts are currently in Buffalo, New York, to attend the 2019 NHL Scouting Combine.

The Combine consists of physical tests, medical exams, and interviews. Representatives from all 31 teams attend to evaluate the invited prospects, in this case 104 young men (56 forwards, 38 defensemen, 10 goalies).

The prospects undergo their medical testing first. They have to clear the exams before they can participate in the physical tests.

When the NHL Scouting Combine Takes Place

The 2019 NHL Scouting Combine runs a whole week from Monday, May 27 to Saturday, June 1. The general schedule is as following:

• Interviews: Monday through Friday
• Medical Exams: Wednesday
• Physical Tests: Friday and Saturday

Venue for the NHL Scouting Combine

For the fourth year, the NHL Combine is being held at a connected complex in Buffalo, New York. Fitness testing takes place at HarborCenter, while prospect interviews are held at the Keybank Center. The prospects stay at the Marriott Hotel.

Colorado Avalanche and the 2019 NHL Scouting Combine

The Colorado Avalanche have the following picks in the 2019 NHL Draft:

#4 (from Ottawa)
#16
#47
#62 (also from Ottawa)
#78
#140
#171
#202

Since there are 104 prospects attending the Combine, the team has the chance to examine potentially five future Avs draftees.

I’m sure the Colorado Avalanche and other teams pay attention to the physical portions of the Combine. However, I’m not sure how much stock they put into the tests or, frankly, even much of the medical exams.

Last season, Martin Kaut was unable to participate in the physical tests because the medical exams revealed he had a congenital heart condition. He had to undergo a minor surgery, which he did in his native Czech Republic.

Nonetheless, the Colorado Avalanche selected him with their sole first-round draft pick, #16, because it was understood he’d be cleared to play after the surgical procedure. Kaut just completed a year in the AHL with the Colorado Eagles, earning 26 points (12 goals, 14 assists) in 63 games. So, their gamble paid off.

To be honest, I think teams put more stock in the interviews. Granted, top prospects have been trained from the time it’s understood they might be drafted to give stock answers. These are still 17- and 18-year-old boys, though, so you might be able to tell something in how they give the stock answers.

Indeed, it was said a few years ago that eventual Avalanche draftee Tyson Jost was especially impressive in the interview process — so much so, that his draft stock jumped from #16 of North American skaters to getting selected #10 overall by Colorado.

Anyway, like I said, the Colorado Avalanche may get face time with as many as five of the players they will draft in Vancouver on June 21 and 22.