I’m through my first half-day at the NHL Scouting Combine at the Westin Bristol Place Toronto Airport Hotel – quite a mouthful, but a nice place – and it’s been an interesting experience.

More than 100 of the best players eligible for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft are floating around the hotel. And they’re in two very different states of dress – some are in suits and ties, flop-sweating their way from one interview to the next. Or they’re sacked out in their hotel rooms, in T-shirts and shorts, watching TV or playing on their computers.

Also, top scouting executives and GMs are making the rounds of the hotel. Among them is Jay Feaster of Tampa Bay, who is on hand for his team’s formal interview with Steven Stamkos, the expected top pick. Also sighted was Phoenix’s Don Maloney.

I got to spend some time with Drew Doughty, the Guelph Storm defenseman ranked No. 3 on Central Scouting’s final ranking. Doughty checked into the hotel Tuesday morning, and with one interview scheduled pretty much had a complete day off from the Combine proceedings. It’s just as well, considering he had spent the previous two days being whisked around Detroit with the other five top prospects.

Our conversation turned to Stamkos, the Sarnia star that he’s played against for years, but only now is getting to know.

“I enjoyed playing against Stamkos, because every game we played against them I was set up to play against him,” Doughty told me. “He brought out the best in me every game. We had some great battles.”

In two of those battles, Doughty recalled having the clear edge.

“There was one point where I gave him a bit of a shove and he took a spill and he got the 10-minute minor for diving and got kicked out of the game and we came back and won the game. And then there’s another time back in his barn that I did a little bit of a dive but I didn’t get the diving penalty and he got the penalty.”

I’ll get Stamkos’ response on Wednesday. The St. Louis Blues have given me the rare opportunity to sit in on their interviews with Stamkos and Corey Fienhage, so check NHL.com Wednesday for an inside look at one of the most important pieces of the Combine.

NHL.com will have three writers up here documenting the event, so if there’s any question you’ve ever wanted to ask one of these prospects, leave a note in the comment field, and we’ll try to get it answered for you.