What We Learned at Combine; Penguins Unique Approach, Who’s the Parrot? (+)

BUFFALO — Future Penn State defenseman Jackson Smith cracked a smile. Others sort of shook their head after being humbled just a little bit by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Penguins’ management, president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas, assistant GM Jason Spezza, and vice president of player personnel Wes Clark took a few prospects to dinner but met with many more.

No, taking a prospect to dinner is not a clear indication that said player will be selected if available, though it is an indication that the player is of great enough interest to talk hockey over a steak.

Dubas was one of the last GMs left at the Combine, staying at least through Friday when most other GMs and their high-ranking staffs bugged out after Thursday. The extra days allowed the Penguins to connect with a few more prospects, too.

Brady Martin, the Soo Greyhounds’ plucky center, spent some of his dinner with the group chatting with Dubas about the Soo, which is Dubas’s hometown. Martin talked about his old-school upbringing and life on a real-life beef and dairy farm, which also has about 60,000 chickens. Clearing rocks from the field is one of his chores.

But it’s how the Penguins interviewed the prospects that was unique and drew sheepishly amused reactions from most of the prospects. PHN was also able to learn quite a bit about the prospects and why a couple of players’ stock is rising rapidly.