2023 NHL Combine Check In

On the eve of fitness testing for the 2023 NHL Combine in Buffalo, N.Y., top NHL prospects Adam Fantilli, Connor Bedard and Leo Carlsson addressed the media on Friday night at LECOM Harborcenter. See below for some of the answers as the trio of NHL hopefuls fielded questions at the podium.

ADAM FANTILLI - CENTER - UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN - NOBELTON, ONT.

I was really fortunate to get to play with a lot of phenomenal hockey players on a lot of amazing teams. Playing on Michigan for starters, amazing guys, and that was the tightest group I've ever played for. It's a tribute to our seniors in our leadership group there. They've had a phenomenal job and I think we went a lot further than a lot of people expected us to.

What part of your game do you feel sets you a part from other prospects?

My ability to play up and down the lineup. I thought I was able to show that you're at World Juniors and at the World Championships. I don't have to be in that top role unnecessarily to be able to have an impact on the game.

What is it like watching and playing with Connor Bedard?

He's a phenomenal hockey player. He's creative too. We've played together a few times, gone to a couple of champs together, we're pretty good buddies. So to be able to watch him have success and that was awesome. He was a huge part of my role and a gold medal. So anytime you're gonna play awesome. He has an awesome work ethic. He's a hell of a hockey player so I am excited to see what he's going to do in his career.

How do you approach this draft with all the the buzz on Bedard?

I think Connor and I are totally different players. I think we can impact games differently. I think the way we approach the game is a little bit different. At the end of the day, it comes down to what team wants and what you might need. So going into the draft, my mindset is focus on myself and then enjoy the day and then you only got one draft. So going into it should be trying and be in the moment and enjoy the best I can.

What was the biggest challenge for you this season at Michigan?

We had quite a few young young guys. We had 12 freshmen coming in. I think being able to get a team to be as close as we were was something that we really focused on. The biggest challenge is just going through those dark days together and making sure that everybody's getting everything they got to be the best team that we could possibly be collectively. Obviously, we've had our ups and downs with the passing of Ian Hume. That diversity really helped us come together as a group and that helped us down the line. I'd say those were probably the biggest challenges and it was even on the ice, it was away from the ice.

Is there anyone in this draft class that you feel is maybe underrated a little bit?

This draft has a lot of really good hockey players. The one guy that I always try and put as much light on as possible is Gavin Brindley. Getting to play with him this year was absolutely amazing. His compete level, his brain and how he trains was phenomenal. I always say he's the best locker room guy I've ever played with. So being able to always be with him in the room and with him in the dorm rooms and just hanging out was was awesome. But his compete level and work ethic and the way he was able to play after Christmas. was phenomenal. I respected him so much.

Are there any NHL Players you try to model your game after?

I like to always preface that question that I don't think I can compare myself to anybody in the NHL, I can't compare myself to anybody in the NHL because they're NHL players. They do it at the highest level and get paid to do it. The players that I try to take the most from the most are Nathan MacKinnon and Matthew Tkachuk. Those are guys I try to emulate a lot, but I can't say that I play like anybody in the NHL because they are NHL stars.

Going back to the World Championship, what was one thing that made you want to improve in your game?

There was a lot of NHL guys went over there someone so I realized that to be the player and person that I want to be and at the next level I think I got to work on a lot, I think I can get bigger and fill out my frame a little bit more, but just decision making, getting faster and just acclimated to be competent in that kind of environment is something you try to get used to.

What were some things you enjoyed about your first year at Ann Arbour?

I mean, just living on campus and going to your classes and living the school life. I mean, a lot of people might look at it as balancing both but I think it's just almost having two different sides of things for when you leave the rink, You get to live like a normal college kid. And when you're done with classes you get to go to the rink and have fun doing what you love. So I think it was just having two different sides of your life that you can go to and enjoy.

CONNOR BEDARD - CENTER - REGINA PATS - NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C.

What did you take away from that experience of getting to attend the Stanley Cup Final?

When you're watching it makes you want to plan in it that much more. It's great that the NHL does that for us. It was awesome. I had never been to a Cup Final game and it was in Vegas and their fans are crazy. So it's really cool experience.

It feels like the spotlight has been on you all year, how have you been able to handle the spotlight that's been on you not just this year but the last few?

Just kind of taking things day-by -ay. I'm focused on you know, what's important, and what I can control with my own team and my own play, of course so you don't really think about that. I mean, there's some extra interviews and attention and whatnot, but I've put my focus on trying to become better player and a better person.

Three years ago, you were granted the exceptional status to play in the WHL. Looking back three years after, how do you think it affected you and what do you think you got out of?

Yes, it was great. For me, getting to play with you guys are 20 years old when I was 15 you learn so much, you're not going to be playing the same way that you do with guys your own age. You've got to adjust, adapt and kind of change your game a little bit, which makes you really have to think the game and that that can really help you. For me, it was great and I was pretty thankful they gave it to me. I think it helped me a lot.

After all the sacrifices that you've made over the years, has it set in how special the Draft is going to be for you and your family?

There's definitely been a lot of work put in and everyone here has been putting in a lot of work since they were really young. So for all the guys it's pretty exciting that it's coming up and about three weeks away now. It's pretty close. It's definitely the back of your head a lot. I think we're all pretty excited.

What's your best attribute in your game?

The best answer is probably my hockey IQ and you know, I'm pretty creative and stuff and love to try to create plays, but I think hockey IQ is probably my best attribute.

Is there anything you want to improve during this offseason?

It's always everything. You always want improve in every area, but I think the games the game so fast, and if I want to want to be at that next level skating is huge. Just the way the game is going. Then some small things like working on my one-timer a little bit, maybe scoring a few more goals from around the net so those are a few things but for me, I always want to work on everything.

LEO CARLSSON - CENTER - OREBRO - KARLSTAD, SWEDEN

How would you sum up this entire experience?

It's been good. We got to go to Vegas to watch [a Stanley Cup Final Game] then we flew here to Buffalo and have had a great few days.

How would you sum up your entire season?

It's been good, there's been some up and downs as well. It was a pretty good at the World Juniors tournament, it was pretty good with playoffs and at the as well.

Does it help alleviate pressure for yourself with Bedard in this draft class?

He's been a great player and person. I'm just playing for myself now and have been doing that the whole season. that we've gotten better placed a call to ourselves and I was so yeah.