NHL talks about the preparation for this year’s draft.

The NHL Central Scouting Bureau (CSB) will continue to use the Internet to help clubs prepare for the 2020 draft even after the league decided on March 25 to postpone the combined testing of players due to the coronavirus pandemic. Initially, it was planned to conduct these tests in Buffalo from June 1 to 6.

On Wednesday, the NHL organized a video conference with Dan Marr, director of the CSB, during which he spoke about the three main areas of the bureau’s work in the current environment.

“NHL clubs could meet with hockey players throughout the season, but now they should conduct such interviews only remotely in any format, depending on the technical capabilities of a particular team,” said Marr. “It’s clear that due to the need to maintain social distance, interviews with direct contact of players and club representatives are forbidden.”

Combined testing also includes a medical examination and tests for strength, endurance and agility. Marr said what will happen this time.

“We will continue to collect information about the health of hockey players. To do this, they will be sent a questionnaire with questions about any health problems. They will also have to submit all the materials at their disposal regarding their health. All this information will be available to doctors and medical staff of clubs.” said Marr. “Now about testing the physical condition of the players. These tests will not happen in connection with the current situation, but we have agreements with the organizers of the matches of the most promising players during which they performed a series of exercises. So the clubs will receive information on the physical condition of 75 youngsters from the first hundred going to the draft.”

The NHL suspended the 2019-20 season on March 12. The Canadian Hockey League (CHL – unites the three leading junior hockey leagues of Canada) and the hockey leagues in Europe cancelled championships and playoffs. Playoffs in the US student league were also cancelled.