2014 NHL Draft Combine May 26-31 aka the Pull-Up thread

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

http://oilers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=721312

Buzzkill

[badger89]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

http://oilers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=721312

I was really hoping we'd draft Ekblad. But after reading this, he's dead to me!

[StrykerSteve]

Originally Posted by JurassicTunga12

The Leafs website has a bunch of interviews with the players at the combine: http://video.mapleleafs.nhl.com/videocenter/console

Reinhart, Draisaitl, Bennett, Ekblad, Dal Colle, Virtanen, Fleury, Ritchie, Perlini, and McCann.

Love watching these. Draisaitl and Ekblad seem like men amongst boys here.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

NHL ‏@NHL 6m
Gang's all here. #NHLCombine selfie with @Jake_Virtanen, @ritchboiii, @MDalColle71, @SBennett93 and @EK5Colts. pic.twitter.com/uRJM3jQqEn

There's either a Lost Boys or Outsiders joke to be made here

[sureLoss]

Mike Morreale @mikemorrealeNHL
Interesting. EDM scouting staff has a definitive top six group of players in the early rds of this year's draft; CAL has a top eight.

Not sure what that means... Flames have 8 players they are targetting with their first 5 picks?

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Mike Morreale @mikemorrealeNHL
Interesting. EDM scouting staff has a definitive top six group of players in the early rds of this year's draft; CAL has a top eight.

Not sure what that means... Flames have 8 players they are targetting with their first 5 picks?

That's what I got. He said "rds" meaning other rounds, so not referencing the top tier group

[sureLoss]

Matthew Scianitti ‏@TSNScianitti 3s
Sam Bennett couldn't do one pullup. Not a big deal: Kevin Durant could barely do bench press at the NBA combine #NHL

[FBI]

Originally Posted by badger89

I was really hoping we'd draft Ekblad. But after reading this, he's dead to me!

I think this quote has Ekblad kind of implying that the oilers are crappy. Kind of like Yes I would be happy to play for anyone, EVEN the oilers.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Matthew Scianitti ‏@TSNScianitti 3s
Sam Bennett couldn't do one pullup.

lol what?

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Matthew Scianitti ‏@TSNScianitti 3s
Sam Bennett couldn't do one pullup. Not a big deal: Kevin Durant could barely do bench press at the NBA combine #NHL

He must be joking

[RyZ]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Matthew Scianitti ‏@TSNScianitti 3s
Sam Bennett couldn't do one pullup. Not a big deal: Kevin Durant could barely do bench press at the NBA combine #NHL

Well thats a little bit interesting considering the more physical type of game he plays. I have to say that it isnt a positive.

[sureLoss]

Really not uncommon for these guys to have underdeveloped upperbody strength at this point and Bennett still has a long way to go.

In 2011 the average number of max reps for a 150lb bench press was 6.5.

[Machiavelli]

No upper body strength
2/10, would not draft

[sureLoss]

Post testing interviews for Larkin, Thomas, Smith, Hickey, Virtanen, Kapanen, Dal Colle are up:

http://video.oilers.nhl.com/videocen...id=4&id=622672

[JJ1532]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

No upper body strength
2/10, would not draft

I agree. I mean, it's not like he couldn't hit the gym hard for the next 3 months after the draft and then do to same for the next 12 months in the juniors if that's where he ended up. Body strength and skating ability are the 2 qualities I am least bothered about. If he lacked hockey IQ, a good shot, good potential etc, then I'd be worried. But his apparent lack of strength hasn't affected his play this season it seems.

[indes]

Originally Posted by JJ1532

I agree. I mean, it's not like he couldn't hit the gym hard for the next 3 months after the draft and then do to same for the next 12 months in the juniors if that's where he ended up. Body strength and skating ability are the 2 qualities I am least bothered about. If he lacked hockey IQ, a good shot, good potential etc, then I'd be worried. But his apparent lack of strength hasn't affected his play this season it seems.

Skating ability should be a close 3rd behind IQ and puckhandling imo.

[sureLoss]

Matthew Scianitti @TSNScianittiSam Bennett says couldnt do a pullup. This summer hell be in the gym "Im disappointed...but games arent won&lost if I cant do a pullup" #NHL

Matthew Scianitti @TSNScianitti
Every team Sam Bennett met with asked him if he's ready for the #NHL right now. "I told them I am"

http://blogs.buffalonews.com/sabres/...r-the-nhl.html

"I do feel like I’ll be ready come training camp," Bennett said today at the NHL Scouting Combine. "I’m going to work really hard in the gym this summer and on the ice to be ready for the NHL this year. I was asked by a whole bunch of teams if I thought I was ready, and my answer every time was I think I’m ready to play next year."

The 17-year-old center has the size and talent to at least make a strong case. He had 36 goals and 91 points in 57 games with Kingston of the Ontario Hockey League. At 6-foot and 178 pounds, he could probably handle the physical challenges.

He could not, however, handle a new fitness test at the Combine. The league add pull-ups this year, and Bennett's total was ... zero.

"No, I wasn’t able to do that," he said with a pained laugh. "My upper body really isn’t my strong suit, but that’s something I’ll be working on in the gym this year.

"I was definitely disappointed with myself. I always want to do the best I can in every test, but I guess ultimately games aren’t won or lost if you can do a pullup in the gym. I guess I’m not too, too worried about it."

[Wolfman]

I know it's not a huge deal but how can a kid like that not do a pull-up? Hit the weights bud!

[Wolfman]

Is there somewhere we can see the results?

[Ashasx]

Rather a physically underdeveloped kid dominate his league than a 17 year old kid in a man's body.

Think of how good he'll be when he can do a pull up.

You'll want to pass on him, Edmonton.