The NHL Draft Combine tests prospects both on and off the ice, and some interviews lead to funny moments. 2026 NHL Draft prospects Chase Reid and Caleb Malhotra recently shared some of the strangest questions they faced during team interviews, giving reporters plenty of laughs.

When asked about the funniest queries tossed at them at the combine, defenseman Chase Reid recounted a challenge that the Montreal Canadiens gave him.

“I was waiting for one. I didn't get one weird one, but Montreal made me throw a puck into a garbage can to test my confidence and see how far back I was willing to go to make the puck in the bucket,” Reid said. “But I missed. I tried to make it, but yeah, I didn't make it.”

The answer quickly made everyone laugh. Instead of asking a generic hockey question, the team seemed to test confidence and decision-making—traits that NHL teams often look for during combine interviews.

Then, center Caleb Malhotra shared an even stranger conundrum thrown at him by a top NHL franchise.

“I've heard of a couple, forget who it was, but they're asking if you were on a desert island or something, there's no water for a day's walk away, and you have someone beside you with a water bottle, would you k*** them and take the water?” Malhotra said. “I've heard about that one. I think that's pretty crazy.”

The anecdotes show how NHL teams often use unusual questions to learn more about a prospect’s personality and character when facing pressure.

NHL Prospects Bringing More Than Personality to the Combine

While the stories were funny, both Chase Reid and Caleb Malhotra arrived at the combine as serious NHL prospects.

Chase Reid is known for his skating, competitiveness, and strong all-around game. The defenseman recently played for the USA U20 and recorded four points, including two goals, in five games.

Meanwhile, Caleb Malhotra is considered one of the top centers available for the 2026 NHL Draft. Playing for the Brantford Bulldogs during the 2025-26 season, he scored 29 goals and added 55 assists for 84 points in 67 games.

His creativity, passing skills, and consistent production have made him one of the most prominent prospects in this draft class.

Although NHL teams spend a lot of time studying skating skills and statistics, the combine showed that some of the most memorable moments happen in the interview room.

What do you think? How useful are unusual NHL Combine interview questions in helping teams judge a prospect’s character?

Read more at the NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Sijo Paul