Why did the hockey player cross the road? Ottawa Senators asked prospects to tell a joke during scouting combine

Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. (Sean Kilpatrick/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Some of the NHL’s top prospects were asked to tell Ottawa Senators scouts a joke during the NHL scouting combine last week in Buffalo.

Social media was buzzing over the weekend after it was reported prospects said they were asked to tell a joke with no notice to Senators scouts during in-person interviews.

Speaking on TSN 1200 Monday morning, Senators head scout Don Boyd confirmed the team did ask draft prospects to tell them a joke unprompted.

“Very few people could come up with jokes,” Boyd said. “At one point, I think we were zero for 59…couldn’t even come up with a joke. Four of the five that did come up with jokes weren’t funny.”

Boyd defended the question as part of the interview process, adding there was “a couple that made us laugh.”

“Sometimes that puts them out of their comfort zone a little bit; we like that, see how they react because they were surprised by it. They still have to play on the ice.”

The Senators met with 73 players during the NHL combine in Buffalo last week, with Boyd saying it was a “real good group of players.”

Ottawa currently has the 21st pick in the 2025 NHL draft, which will be held on June 27 and 28.

Boyd says it’s important for the club to find leaders and players that will develop into leaders.

“We’ve recognized the need for that in our room. I don’t think it’s new, but we’ve certainly emphasized the leadership character qualities of players now and the compete level of players now,” Boyd said.