Quote:
Originally Posted by New Era
Is anyone else completely underwhelmed by the performance put in by the top prospects in the physical testing? I think this is another indication of too much hype over kids that may or may not be able to deliver at the highest level in the NHL. If this was the NFL combine the top four would take a substantial hit in their rating. Is there more hype versus substance to this year's group of players?
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Not underwhelmed at all - These are 17/18 year old kids and the shape they will be in by the time they are NHL ready will certainly be better than the shape they are now.
In the NFL its probably a bigger deal because most prospects are in their 20s and are expected to contend for spots after being drafted - if their physical testing was underwhelming it would affect their likelihood of playing next year and their ranking.
The "hype" over the top prospects every year is based on how they play, their potential, and how well their game will translate in the NHL. Since very few NHL prospects are expected to step in and make the team next year, I think scouts are taking the physical testing as a grain of salt. If anything, being "underwhelming" is expected as it is an indicator that they have room to improve, and as long they don't show up completely out of shape scouts will know that they are at least staying fit. Interviews likely have a greater factor of affecting a team's ranking of a player at the combine.