As the 2026 NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo moves toward its final day of physical testing, prospects have already completed most interviews, with teams noticing how they handle pressure, detail, and self-awareness. From Gavin McKenna’s confidence gains after the
Buffalo is starting to feel like the end of a long, high-stakes week. By Saturday, the 2026 NHL Draft Combine is heading toward conclusion, and most of the prospects have already finished their interviews. The next phase is waiting for them now—grueling physical testing—where there’s nowhere to hide.
For the teams watching, the part that already happened may be just as revealing. This year’s group has stood out early. with a notable consistency in how prospects have handled conversations with NHL decision-makers. The Sportsnet interview group has not encountered one prospect who has interviewed poorly. and the people behind the microphone and notebook have been keeping close track from the start: draft producer Scott Lennox. Ailish Forfar. Justin Bourne. and the energizer bunnies Sam Cosentino and Colby Armstrong.
One detail has stood out in Buffalo: the sheer spread in how many interviews prospects schedule with NHL clubs. Gavin McKenna—seen as likely to be selected with one of the first two picks in the draft—has only eight interviews scheduled with teams this week. At the other end of the spectrum. Calgary Hitmen defenceman Ben MacBeath. projected to be selected late in the first or early in the second round. has 26 interviews on his schedule.
The math may look different, but the pressure doesn’t. These are teenagers being asked to present themselves at full volume in front of NHL executives. many of them not used to interviewing outside hockey. And when the nerves hit. what teams seem to be hunting for is simple: confidence. honesty. and the ability to think quickly when the questions come fast.
That’s why McKenna’s interview from Thursday stuck. One of the first interviews, it didn’t disappoint. He was honest and open about having to make adjustments at the college level playing for Penn State this year—especially the transition from the CHL to the NCAA and the expectation to produce at a high level right away. He also pointed to where his confidence shifted: after the World Junior Championship at Christmas.
He didn’t just talk about confidence, either. McKenna recognized he needed to pay more attention to detail. on and off the puck defensively. and he said it led to more offence overall. That blend—defensive buy-in without losing the offensive edge—is exactly the kind of self-assessment teams want to hear.
When the conversation turned to the future, McKenna made his intentions clear: he plans to play in the NHL next season. He’s working hard off the ice to add more strength to his frame. Before the combine, NHL Central Scouting has McKenna listed at 6-foot, 170 pounds.
There was also a human thread running through the interview. McKenna referenced the support system within his family and spoke in glowing terms about his heritage, especially his grandfather. He’s proud to call Whitehorse. Yukon home. and his family history includes a sacred family cabin located hours north of Whitehorse—where they spend time together in nature. fishing and hunting for moose.
Caleb Malhotra brought a different kind of readiness. The former Brantford Bulldogs centre had a fantastic interview as well. He’s currently scheduled to attend Boston University next season. but he believes he could be ready to turn pro this summer and compete for an NHL roster spot in September. Malhotra also emphasized versatility, saying he can be deployed in a variety of roles. His confidence isn’t only about scoring—it’s about the defensive detail required on nights when he isn’t producing offence.
The interview included a playful but pointed question. He was asked: if he took 10 face-offs at this stage of his development against his father, Manny, how many would he win? Malhotra’s answer came with respect and a measure of realism—he said Manny would win seven out of the 10.
In Kamloops, J.P Hurlbert walked into his interview dressed for success. He was the only prospect in a suit. He said he wears a suit every day because it’s the level of respect he believes NHL teams deserve.
Hurlbert’s path has some momentum of its own. He left the USNTDP last summer to head west and play for the Blazers. In Kamloops, he contributed 42G-55A. This fall, he’s heading to the University of Michigan.
Thursday also brought standout impressions from Sweden. Several players impressed, but forward Alexander Command and defenceman William Hakansson stood out. Command is a 6-foot, 186-pound, left-shot centre. He was left off Sweden’s summer team last August for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. but he used the snub as motivation.
His numbers backed it up. Command produced 17G-27A in 30 J20 games playing for Orebro. then added 6G-6A over 12 games suiting up for the national team the rest of the year. He plays a hard style of hockey and. as he put it in the interview. has a hatred towards his opponents. He told them he will do whatever it takes for his team in whatever role the coach asks of him.
Hakansson, meanwhile, comes with physical weight and a no-nonsense label he owns. He’s a hulking left-shot defenceman listed at 6-foot-4. 207 pounds. and is expected to approach—or even surpass—220 pounds once he fully fills out. Like Command, he carries a physical, shut-down approach. He also described himself as someone who isn’t likely to move the needle offensively. while also playing with a “hatred” towards his opponent.
NHL teams value that wiring, the kind of mindset that shows up in the way a player executes with the puck and brings physical presence. Hakansson is described as leading by example and executing efficiently.
The week isn’t over yet. More interviews are scheduled for Friday, including Ivar Stenberg, Keaton Verhoeff, Chase Reid, Carson Carels, Daxon Rudolph and others. And with the physical testing set to begin in earnest as Saturday approaches, the last impressions—those final conversations—will matter.
By next week. the year-end draft rankings will be summarized at the beginning of the week as the combine closes. but in Buffalo the story already feels clear: long before the workouts start. teams are locking onto the same traits—how prospects respond under pressure. how they talk about their growth. and how seriously they take the moment.
2026 NHL Draft Combine Buffalo Gavin McKenna Ben MacBeath Penn State Calgary Hitmen Brantford Bulldogs Caleb Malhotra Boston University Manny Malhotra J.P Hurlbert Kamloops Blazers University of Michigan Alexander Command William Hakansson Sweden prospects Hlinka Gretzky Cup World Junior Championship NHL Central Scouting