The National Hockey League Scouting Pool is an annual event that gives league teams the chance to get an early, up-close look at players expected to be selected in the early rounds of the NHL Draft. While the focus is often on the more physical aspects of the group, including the barrage of tests each player undergoes, it’s the mental tests of young prospects that can often produce some of the group’s best quotes.
One of the tests that is often a topic of conversation among young rookies are the questions asked by teams across the league, some of which are downright bizarre at times. This year was no exception, with some players answering some of the bizarre questions asked by NHL teams.
NHL prospect Zayne Parekh of the Ontario Hockey League’s Saginaw Spirit revealed he was asked about his personal rating on two different apps. The apps in question were also wide-ranging, with the first being the popular transportation service Uber and the second the instant messaging app Snapchat. Parekh revealed to reporters that his Uber rating is 4.92.
This was confirmed by Habs insider Arpon Basu who also reported that the Uber question was asked, but added additional information by claiming that it was the Utah hockey team that asked the question to hopes.
The Nashville Predators also reportedly posed a strange question, asking players how they viewed themselves in a war scenario.
“If you were drafted into war, would you be a sniper, pilot or medic?” » asked the Predators according to Mark Scheig.
The Montreal Canadiens asked prospects what animal they considered themselves, which, while not that weird, produced some pretty comical responses.
“I chose a narwhal…because it’s rare and one of a kind, like me,” said prospect Cole Hutson, describing it as “whales with big pointy noses” In the process.
This one is also a little out of left field because it wasn’t a question at all. The Colorado Avalanche, according to two different prospects, had the prospects play board games during their time with them.