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

[Trailer Fire]

Like the other, more rational folk have already said, it isn't really a concern because if he is as good as he is now with the ability to do 0 pull ups, imagine the day he can do 10.

But by all means, continue to slander and ridicule.

[Lanny_McDonald]

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?

[Day Tripper]

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?

Not a big deal. Look at the 2013 results: http://www.topendsports.com/sport/ic...sults-2013.htm

MacKinnon was in the top 10 for only body fat %. Barkov wasn't in any of the top 10 lists. Drouin for only body fat %. Jones for just wingspan.

[mile]

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?

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.

[Erick Estrada]

I think the expectations of some over these combine results are a little too high physically given how young these guys are. This isn't the NFL combine where the players are around 22-24 years old and plenty of time during the course of the school year to hit the gym and get big/strong. All the combine shows is where the kids are in their physical development. Being a big/strong guy like Mark McNeill at the combine doesn't necessarily translate to a guy that is going to excel in the NHL or even be more NHL ready. I don't think teams are too worried about Bennett not being able to do a pull up and the only thing I can think of it mattering to is teams like the Oilers or Panthers that may be looking for players that can step into the NHL sooner or later but really most of the forwards at the top of the draft class look like they will need a few years to fill out as a lot of them looked pretty slight.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Vids or it didn't happen.

I rock climb 3-4 times a week and I don't think I can do 12 chin ups with proper form. Perhaps you're cheating or doing them wrong?

Chin ups costing him 1st overall? LOLOL. You have got to be kidding. What a ridiculous thing to say. The overreaction to this has reached absurd proportions.

It's also worth mentioning that most hockey players have disproportional arm strength to leg strength. Quite often they have legs like tree trunks and skinny toned arms. A lot of people in the regular population are exactly the opposite. We tend to focus on arms and upper body strength, while leaving our legs twiggy making something like pull-ups a little easier.

Having said that, this is something that scouts deemed valuable enough that it is worth measuring. If some teams had him tied with another player, it might break the tie. If a team already had him ahead of a another player though, I doubt this will change their minds much.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by ignite09

Draisaitl isn't anywhere in the videos or final results. He was there was he not?

I think this is an important question that has been lost in the nonsensical concern about Bennett's inability to do a pull up.

What's the deal with Draisaitl?

[ricardodw]

Yep ... NHL players do not need upper body strengh.... Dustin Boyd didn't have the upper body strength as an 18 year old and yet went on to have a long NHL career.

These off ice fitness tests are meaningless... Iginla and Brind amour and Chelios all did extremely well at the fitness tests and already 2 out out of teh 3 are done at the NHL level.


Seriously ... how did Monahan do at the pull ups at last years combine ? He was strong enough to compete in the NHL as a 19 year old. He was not an overly dominant physical presence but he was not a noticeable push over.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Seriously ... how did Monahan do at the pull ups at last years combine ? He was strong enough to compete in the NHL as a 19 year old. He was not an overly dominant physical presence but he was not a noticeable push over.

Monahan did 0 pull ups at the combine last year.

















But that was only because pull ups were introduced this year.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

What's the deal with Draisaitl?

Apartment shopping in Edmonton?

[Burke Salad]

Curious if anyone knows what type of shape Ritchie showed up in?

[Caged Great]

edit nm

[sureLoss]

^ again those appear to be pre combine

[OzSome]

Didn't Bennett missed the NHL Prospect game due to injury? Anybody know what type of injury it was?

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

^ again those appear to be pre combine

Did not notice that, my bad.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Yep ... NHL players do not need upper body strengh.....

You obviously haven't see pictures of Patrick Kane during his draft year.

[Burke Salad]

Does anyone have an analysis of Hunter Smith?

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by chubeyr1

I am 41 years old, short, overweight, and I can do a dozen chin-ups. Don't get it when a kid knows he is gonna be tested for this and cant do one chin up? That probably just cost him any chance of first overall. Who knows maybe it was his plan? Would you want to play for florida, buffalo, or edmonton?

Who cares if he can't do a chin up, he is a talented hockey player. Last time I checked there were no chin ups in hockey.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by OzSome

Didn't Bennett missed the NHL Prospect game due to injury? Anybody know what type of injury it was?

Groin pull.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Burke Salad

Does anyone have an analysis of Hunter Smith?

His upside is basically that of Brian Boyle. A big guy that might be able to stick on a 3rd or 4th line. Not a lot of offense, but not completely devoid of anything. Primarily though he's there for his physicality.

I'd rather use a 2nd/3rd on a 6-2 to 6-4 D-man who might one day become a decent top 4 guy than on someone that's projecting to be a depth forward (doubly so because of how many depth guys we have)