Prince Albert Raiders defenseman Terrell Goldsmith interview with several NHL teams at the combine. (Submitted Photo/Mark Peterson Media)

By Rob Mahon

Goldsmith At Combine

Raiders’ defenseman Goldsmith takes next step toward draft at NHL combine

Jun 13, 2023 | 6:00 PM

The NHL draft is just over two weeks away, and the top prospects from around the hockey world are hoping they’ve gotten the attention of scouts at the game’s highest level. Prince Albert Raiders defenseman Terrell Goldsmith now has proof that he’s on their radar.

The 6-foot-4 hard-nosed blueliner was one of 106 prospects invited to the NHL Combine in Buffalo last week. Once there, prospects were tested physically with agility, endurance, and strength evaluations and teams had the chance to interview them.

“It was a pretty surreal experience,” Goldsmith said. “Getting to go all the way to Buffalo and showcase myself was pretty cool, along with being around all the top prospects. It’s pretty cool from me and definitely an exciting time.”

Mingling with those prospects allowed Goldsmith to meet some of them who only knew him from playing against him (many of whom might not have had fond memories of that experience, given how physically Goldsmith plays). He also got to reconnect with an old teammate from his Delta Hockey Academy days in Lukas Dragicevic.

“He was my roommate too,” Goldsmith said. “We didn’t stay in touch too much over the last few years so I got to know him again and a little better.”

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Once the fitness testing began, Goldsmith shone, although he said it wasn’t easy for him. In particular, he placed in the top ten in grip strength and in the test duration of the aerobic fitness VO2 Max test.

“The winggate, they’re yelling at you and stuff, it was pretty cool,” said Goldsmith. “It was my first time ever doing it (the VO2 test) and it was my first time wearing the mask, but it was cool.”

Though he knows he has areas to improve, Goldsmith came away satisfied with his physical fitness testing scores. Aside from that, he also got to sit down with several NHL teams and go through their interview processes.

“I was obviously a little nervous going into it but once you get into it it’s pretty cool getting to talk to NHL teams and having good talks,” he said. “It was exciting.”

The combine is somewhat known for the variety of questions players will be asked, some of them coming straight out of left field, all of them designed to reveal some aspect of a player’s personality. Goldsmith said he didn’t get any of the truly strange ones, but did get asked what kind of animal he would be by one team (his answer: a lion).

Another moment from the combine that stood out to Goldsmith was the arrival of Steve Yzerman. The NHL legend and current GM of the Detroit Red Wings spoke to the prospects as a group.

“He talked to us about the combine and why teams do it,” Goldsmith said. “That was pretty cool, getting to see him talk to us.”

The NHL draft will be on June 28 and 29.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP