Adam Fantilli spoke with 11 teams. Leo Carlsson chatted with the same number.

Connor Bedard, meanwhile, didnB次元官网网址檛 get specific when asked how many clubs B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址渁 pretty good amountB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� quizzed the presumptive No. 1 overall pick at the NHL scouting combine.

Three players expected to go in the top-5 picks at this monthB次元官网网址檚 draft were poked, prodded and tested this week as the leagueB次元官网网址檚 32 franchises prepare to select the next wave of talent.

But why would teams speak with players B次元官网网址� Bedard is all but assured of going first to the Chicago Blackhawks, while Fantilli could go as high as No. 2 to the Anaheim Ducks B次元官网网址� they have no realistic hope of selecting?

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think itB次元官网网址檚 always for right now,B次元官网网址� said Fantilli, who sits behind only Bedard on NHL Central ScoutingB次元官网网址檚 list of North American skaters. B次元官网网址淪ometimes trades could happen down the line, picks could switch. You never know.

B次元官网网址淭hey might be doing due diligence for further down the line B次元官网网址� in my career and in theirs.B次元官网网址�

Bedard, a 17-year-old phenom from North Vancouver, B.C., being mentioned in the same breath as Connor McDavid, enjoyed the banter with general managers and scouting staffs.

B次元官网网址淎lways exciting when you can talk to a team of the league youB次元官网网址檙e going to be playing in,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵ou can definitely learn some things B次元官网网址� getting to talk to them and building some relationships.B次元官网网址�

Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen, whose club is slated to pick third behind Chicago and Anaheim, said every organization has its process.

The interviews and dinners offer insight into the subject, but can also be about getting information on other prospects.

B次元官网网址淢aybe some players that he played with on the national team or find out about his character B次元官网网址� just in case,B次元官网网址� Kekalainen said of chatting with Bedard. B次元官网网址淵ou never know what happens down the road. WeB次元官网网址檒l get to know him a little bit, what makes him so good and why heB次元官网网址檚 become so good at what he does.B次元官网网址�

Colby Barlow, the 12th-ranked North American skater, said there was plenty of talk about draft hopefuls he got to know playing at the world under-18 championship.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of that,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址�(About) their personalities and how good all those kids were.B次元官网网址�

Kekalainen said he likes it when youngsters pose questions of their own. One exchange with a future three-time Stanley Cup champion and Conn Smythe Trophy winner still stands out more than two decades later.

B次元官网网址淚 remember Duncan Keith,B次元官网网址� Kekalainen said of the two-time Norris Trophy winner as the NHLB次元官网网址檚 best defenceman. B次元官网网址淗e was all about asking questions and finding out how he can get better. I remember that like yesterday.

B次元官网网址淐atches your attention.B次元官网网址�

Teams also try to throw curveballs at players. The queries werenB次元官网网址檛 as off-the-wall as theyB次元官网网址檝e sometimes been in years past, although the Montreal Canadiens did ask prospects some variation of, B次元官网网址淲hat kind of animal would you be?B次元官网网址�

Brayden Yager, the 11th-ranked North American skater, answered B次元官网网址渨olfB次元官网网址� before justifying his response.

B次元官网网址淎 wolf is in a pack,B次元官网网址� he explained. B次元官网网址淚 care about my family and my teammates.B次元官网网址�

Fantilli, meanwhile, appreciated the glimpse at how nearly a dozen organizations operate B次元官网网址� even if he has a pretty solid understanding of where heB次元官网网址檒l be heading June 28.

B次元官网网址淕etting in those rooms, feeling it out, getting to know them and (their) views was a really good experience,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淩eally glad I was able to have that.B次元官网网址�

BEDARD TESTS

Fantilli and Carlsson, the top-ranked European skater, skipped some of the off-ice fitness testing, but Bedard was in the middle of the fray wearing his usual No. 98.

While he has little, if anything, to prove, the Canadian Hockey LeagueB次元官网网址檚 player of the year felt it was important to partake after his season with the Regina Pats ended in AprilB次元官网网址檚 first round of the playoffs.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been off for a while, unfortunately,B次元官网网址� Bedard said. B次元官网网址淣ever really a question for myself whether I was gonna (test) or not.B次元官网网址�

FAMILIAR NAMES

The sons of former NHLers are peppered throughout every draft, and 2023 will be no different.

Among the prospects poised to be selected in Nashville are Gabriel Perreault (Yanic Perreault), Ethan Gauthier (Denis Gauthier), Oliver Bonk (Radek Bonk) and Cole Knuble (Mike Knuble).

MANNB次元官网网址橲 FLASHBACK

Matteo Mann worked the draft floor as a runner at the 2016 event in Buffalo thanks to a family connection.

The son of now-Senators assistant GM Trent Mann has fond memories of scrambling around KeyBank Centre to get whatever OttawaB次元官网网址檚 scouts needed the night Auston Matthews went No. 1 to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

B次元官网网址淚 remember having a lot of blisters,B次元官网网址� said the 84th-ranked North American skater. B次元官网网址淚 think it was the first time I wore dress shoes.B次元官网网址�