Niagara IceDogs Mark Visentin and Freddie Hamilton are among 100 of the top NHL Draft Prospects currently in Toronto taking part in the NHL's Draft Combine which runs from May 24th-29th.  The combine will see Visentin and Hamilton take part in a number of interviews with various teams, as well as participating in physical testing.

The combine begins with the interview process, as the players make their way around to the various teams' hotel suites for the interviews.  The interviews take place in 15 minute blocks where the player meets with the general manager, scouts and psychologists.  Teams will meet with as many as 50 of the 100 prospects attending the combine and use the time to do things like judge a players character and ask questions pertaining to on- and off-ice issues.

"You're getting a feel for the players," says New York Islanders Director of Amateur Scouting Ryan Jankowski "We get a chance to meet them face to face, get an understanding of what they went through during the season, what they see in their game and if we correlate it the same way."

The interview process is different for each team, but the inclusion of psychologists is becoming common for teams, with players becoming better coached about the process by agents/advisors and friends who have gone through the process.

"I don't pretend to be equipped to deal in the mental skills part of an interview where you evaluate what's been said," says Atlanta Thrashers GM Rick Dudley "I'll sit in on the interviews, get a comfort level with a player, but we'll have a couple people, psychologists and psychiatrists, brought in to evaluation the answers from these guys. How much stock we put into it I'm not sure at this point."

After the interview process is concluded, the players move on to physical testing which once again is not a simple cut and dry process.  The physical testing measures each player's strength, stamina and explosiveness.

While the results of the testing in each players circuit is obviously a very important key, teams are looking at more than simply the final results of the tests.

Teams are also looking to see how players are able to gut their way through the tests, especially the grueling bike tests, which push the players to the limits.

The final aspect of the physical testing is the way the testing results can be pulled together to help give teams an idea of how much of a chance there is for a player to grow physically, something that is obviously important when dealing with 17 and 18 year olds.

Overall, the scouting combine is used to give NHL teams an opportunity to get a closer look at some of the top talent available for the upcoming draft.  While every team has had a chance to have their scouts see all the top prospects, the combine provides the teams an up close and personal look at the players and in the case of the interviews, provides the team a chance to deal with the players one-on-one, something they may not have had a chance to do prior to the combine.

While the combine is obviously only a part of the draft equation for teams, it is an important piece of the puzzle as teams try to make their final decisions on who to pick come the 2010 NHL Draft on June 25-26 in Los Angeles.  How big a piece of the puzzle depends on the situation.

"Really it comes down to a hunch," said Washington Capitals GM George McPhee. "You can't explain what's more important or what a certain player does. You just watch them all year and try to make a decision as best you can with all the information you have. It usually comes down to an instinct, a hunch. After watching them do everything, you like a certain player and that's who you draft.

"It (the Combine) is a very helpful piece (of the puzzle), but one part of the whole package."

With their work ethic, preparation and composure, Mark and Freddie are sure to impress in Toronto as they try to make one last push up the draft board prior to the big days on June 25-26.