How two NHL teams were fooled by the same prospect during pre-draft interviews.

If you've ever wondered what goes on during pre-draft interviews between NHL teams and that year's group of eligible prospects then this story is for you. With the 2015 NHL draft just around the corner NHL Network analyst and former Calgary Flames general manager Craig Button shared one of his favorite draft moments from his time as a GM with Sabres TV Host Brian Duff. Button spoke of one particular player who impressed the team during the interview process, a young man by the name of Tuomo Ruutu, it was Craig's brother Tod Button that conducted the interview with Ruutu  and he was very pleased with the result.

“Tod couldn’t wait to tell me that during their chat, Ruutu cited being a fan of numerous Flames greats and even went so far as to say he had Calgary Flames pajamas when he was a kid!” Craig said.

It's exactly the kind of thing a general manager wants to hear, not only was Ruutu a big power forward who had a lot of appeal in that draft but he loved the Flames.  Unfortunately it was not to be and the Blackhawks drafted him 9th overall in 2001. So imagine Tod's surprise when a few months latter during a conversation with Chicago Blackhawks director of player personnel Dale Tallon he's told how much Ruutu loved the Blackhawks as a child.

“Man, he just blew us away with his love for Chicago, talking about all our great players from the past,’” Tallon said to Tod. “He even said he had Blackhawks pajamas as a kid," Craig recalls. 

It's a pretty hilarious story from Button, and a really solid example of how to market yourself from Tumomo Ruutu who pulled one over on two NHL teams and may have climbed a spot or two in the draft as a result. It does make you wonder what some of this year's NHL prospects may have said to earn a top spot in the draft.