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2016 NHL Scouting Combine: Patrik Laine injured, Winnipeg Jets interview 86 prospects

Time for some 2016 NHL Scouting Combine goodness! As per Mitchell Clinton, the Winnipeg Jets interviewed 70 players yesterday and planned to sit down with a final 16 today. If everything went according to plan, of the 114 prospects at the 2016 NHL Combine, the Jets will have interviewed 86 of them (my kingdom for a list of the unworthy 28).

Furthermore, Clinton's article reminds readers of a change made back in September, when Mark Hillier replaced Marcel Comeau as Director of Amateur Scouting. According to Hillier, Winnipeg's 86 interviews may have led the league. Due diligence, lack of focus or somewhere inbetween? I'll let you decide (mostly because I haven't the slightest clue one way or the other):

Clinton also had 1-on-1 interviews with Patrik Laine, Auston Matthews and Jesse Puljujarvi. Click here and here for Matthews and Puljujarvi, respectively, while below is Laine's interview for your viewing pleasure:

Unfortunately for the 6'4'' Finn, he injured his left knee while on the V02 max bike test today. As a result, Laine will be "sticking mostly to upper-body workouts and avoiding any stress below the waist" for Saturday's fitness events.

Finally, JetsTV gifted viewers with video of a Patrik Laine media scrum at the combine. In addition to answering an obligatory Teemu Selanne-related question, Laine elaborated on the aforementioned leg injury, acknowledging that it was the same knee he had surgery on in 2013:

The remaining tests on Saturday are “standing height and wingspan measurements, standing long jump, jump station, pro agility test, bench press, pull-ups, Y-balance test station and the Wingate Cycle Ergometer test.” Meanwhile, Jesse Puljujarvi will not participate in any fitness testing this weekend, after having surgery on his left knee in May.

The Matthew Tkachuk hype train will begin boarding in ten minutes be delayed, thanks to a sprained ankle.

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