It’s once again that time of year where moderately overweight men in suits spend the day ogling sweaty shirtless teenagers working out. It’s the NHL Combine!

This week the prospects for the NHL Draft will go through a battery of physical tests, the results of which are taken very seriously for about four minutes, and then forgotten. The real fun happens in the interview rooms, where the players are grilled on their game and why they should be drafted, but we don’t get to watch that part.

The Combine is once again in Buffalo, and our own Scott Wheeler will be there.

Memorial Cup

The Memorial Cup Final is tonight at 7:00PM on Sportsnet

Erie Otters Transition Game: A Theory on Creating Offence – The First Pass
All season, the Erie Otters were the Harlem Globetrotters of the OHL. They scored at will, thanks to their 2nd-ranked power play and the OHL's top-2 scorers, Alex Debrincat & Taylor Raddysh. In 68 regular season games this year, the Otters scored 316 (!) goals, an average of 4.65 per game!

CHL alumni game brings Spitfires old and new to the ice - ElSeldo
Matt Martin, Cal O’Reily, and Taylor Hall finally answer the questions we’ve been waiting for.

Alex DeBrincat named 2017 CHL Player of the Year - Second City Hockey
The 2016 second-round draft pick completed his third straight 100-point season in the Ontario Hockey League with the Erie Otters.

Michael McNiven named CHL Goaltender of the Year - Eyes On The Prize
The Habs prospect had an incredible season with the Owen Sound Attack.

ICYMI

Maple Leafs to play Capitals in outdoor game next year - Katya
Is this the start of a new rivalry?  Or just a chance to get some more Nylander - Backstrom interviews?

Calder Cup

The Syracuse Crunch will compete for the Calder Cup - Raw Charge
For just the second time in Crunch history, the team has made it to the Calder Cup Final.

It’s Memorial Day weekend, so I expect news to stay light. Have a nice Sunday!

From The Branches