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

[Monahan23]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

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)

Agree, many good Dmen like you described that are also RH

Jack Dougherty, Dysin Mayo, Ryan Collins, Jack Glover, Travis Sanheim, Ben Thomas

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Monahan did 0 pull ups at the combine last year.





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

How did Monahan and Bennett do on the Bench Press?

It is somewhat surprising that after his epic news worthy fail at pull up that the rest of Bennett's tests are not being talked about.

RNH had 6 reps at the bench press. That was below the average of the 100 or so guys tested and it shows the limits of the player at the NHL level. Is Bennett stronger than RHN?

If Bennett is supposed to be a Toews type of gritty leader he needs to have at least average strength. Or will Bennett's potential be Burrows-like.... scrappy but not able to back it up.

I thought that the Flames (and Buffalo and Edmonton) would rather have Bennett over Reinhart due to his more aggressive style of play. If Bennett does not have the tools to carry this type of play to the NHL level... or if he is a project... needing 2 or 3 years to get stronger.... I can see him falling to the Flames #4 pick.

You draft projects with the #13 and #7 picks... like Baertschi and Scheifele.

[FakenHaken]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

How did Monahan and Bennett do on the Bench Press?

It is somewhat surprising that after his epic news worthy fail at pull up that the rest of Bennett's tests are not being talked about.

RNH had 6 reps at the bench press. That was below the average of the 100 or so guys tested and it shows the limits of the player at the NHL level. Is Bennett stronger than RHN?

If Bennett is supposed to be a Toews type of gritty leader he needs to have at least average strength. Or will Bennett's potential be Burrows-like.... scrappy but not able to back it up.

I thought that the Flames (and Buffalo and Edmonton) would rather have Bennett over Reinhart due to his more aggressive style of play. If Bennett does not have the tools to carry this type of play to the NHL level... or if he is a project... needing 2 or 3 years to get stronger.... I can see him falling to the Flames #4 pick.

You draft projects with the #13 and #7 picks... like Baertschi and Scheifele.

Bennett didn't do any bench presses. Not sure how this is all going to work into your GRIT index. I guess back to the drawing board.

I'm sure sureloss linked an article that this year they polled the strength and conditioning coaches and the bench press didn't occur this year. As well other measures were also replaced. Which is why it is difficult to try and compare this years results with previous combine results.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

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

Does Bennett have Patrick Kane hockey skills? or even Johnny Gaudreau hockey skills.

Is that why he is a top 4 draft pick?

[strombad]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Does Bennett have Patrick Kane hockey skills? or even Johnny Gaudreau hockey skills.



Is that why he is a top 4 draft pick?

Well he isn't a top 4 pick because of his extreme ability to outmuscle everyone, if that's what you're getting at.

Clearly we're going to end up drafting Bennett. Ricardo needs a new whipping boy now that Stempniak is gone.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Does Bennett have Patrick Kane hockey skills? or even Johnny Gaudreau hockey skills.

Is that why he is a top 4 draft pick?

Yes he is a top 4 pick because of his skill set.

He was voted smartest player, best stickhandler, and best playmaker in the OHL by his peers.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Does Bennett have Patrick Kane hockey skills? or even Johnny Gaudreau hockey skills.

Is that why he is a top 4 draft pick?

I don't think so. The guys in the draft that have that skill set are Ehlers and Nylander. But their size is what is keeping them back (that, and potential attitude issue with Nylander).

[Flames89]

The Great Pull-Up Debacle 2014 does make me think that the Oilers will have to take pause and consider Draisaitl. Bennett is exactly what they don't need.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by FakenHaken

Bennett didn't do any bench presses. Not sure how this is all going to work into your GRIT index. I guess back to the drawing board.

I'm sure sureloss linked an article that this year they polled the strength and conditioning coaches and the bench press didn't occur this year. As well other measures were also replaced. Which is why it is difficult to try and compare this years results with previous combine results.

I sure as heck was not expecting Bennett to possibly be fringe player that might need bigger teammates to create him space.

I find it interesting that so many people figure that Bennett will be able to get stronger ... that he is motivated to do so and will improve.....

I go back to Dustin Boyd who had sufficient hockey skills to be a star but was not physically strong enough. He was 6' 187. At the World juniors Boyd got a ton of goals in the dirty area in front of the goal. At the NHL level he was not strong enough to get there. I can't imagine that Boyd would not have worked incredibly hard at getting stronger in his 7 years after getting drafted before going on to star in the KHL.



As a 27 year old Boyd (and Dawes on the same team) put up more points in the KHL than Burmistrov.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by strombad

Well he isn't a top 4 pick because of his extreme ability to outmuscle everyone, if that's what you're getting at.

Clearly we're going to end up drafting Bennett. Ricardo needs a new whipping boy now that Stempniak is gone.

Stempniak is a UFA and the Flames have a ton of cap room

[RyZ]

Originally Posted by FakenHaken

Bennett didn't do any bench presses. Not sure how this is all going to work into your GRIT index. I guess back to the drawing board.

I'm sure sureloss linked an article that this year they polled the strength and conditioning coaches and the bench press didn't occur this year. As well other measures were also replaced. Which is why it is difficult to try and compare this years results with previous combine results.

Im sure the bench press did happen again this year. I have seen videos of Ekblad on the bench press this year.

[Gaskal]

Bennett's about 180 as a 17 year old (18 in a few weeks) and currently hailed as 'wiry' status. Assuming he fills out I'd expect him to end up somewhere around a lean 200.

My goodness he looks like a cream puff in this picture. But he'd still crosscheck someone in the face if he got mad enough.

Spoiler!

[sureLoss]

Bennett did at least 3 bench press reps in the clip shown in this video:



The actual number will most likely remain a mystery as central scouting only releases the top 10 results for each test to the public.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by strombad

Well he isn't a top 4 pick because of his extreme ability to outmuscle everyone, if that's what you're getting at.

.

I must of been mislead by the hype.

I thought that Bennett was supposed to bring a high degree of physicality to his game.... that he was able drive to the net on a somewhat consistent basis and that he played with enough of an edge to create space.

Attitude might get you their in juniors but a the NHL level you need a certain level of strength to succeed..... or a really high level of skill.

I can see why the Flames and Oilers and Islanders and..... will be lining up offers for Ekblad.

[mile]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

Bennett's about 180 as a 17 year old (18 in a few weeks) and currently hailed as 'wiry' status. Assuming he fills out I'd expect him to end up somewhere around a lean 200.

My goodness he looks like a cream puff in this picture. But he'd still crosscheck someone in the face if he got mad enough.

Spoiler!

Is that really him? He looks like a different guy here.

[FlameZilla]

Bennett is a special talent with an rare mix of skill & aggression. A prospect can work on his upper body strength & improve his pull-up technique fairly easily, but you can't really teach a player to have the natural skill that Bennett has. I can't imagine this will affect his draft standing. If anything it probably ensures he drops to #4. Happy days.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by mile

Is that really him? He looks like a different guy here.

Wikipedia says that was him yesterday afternoon.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by FakenHaken

Bennett didn't do any bench presses. Not sure how this is all going to work into your GRIT index. I guess back to the drawing board.

I'm sure sureloss linked an article that this year they polled the strength and conditioning coaches and the bench press didn't occur this year. As well other measures were also replaced. Which is why it is difficult to try and compare this years results with previous combine results.

and yet sureloss posted a video of Bennett doing Bench presses. He got at least 3 in and looked like he was good for at least 4.

[Robbob]

I think people may be looking a little to much into the strength aspect at the scouting combine. If there was a measure that could accurately reflect hockey IQ and production...oh wait there is by looking at his point production as a 17 year in the CHL.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Does Bennett have Patrick Kane hockey skills? or even Johnny Gaudreau hockey skills.

Is that why he is a top 4 draft pick?

No but there's not a player in this draft with Kane's skills. The thing is that a lot of scouts were worried that Kane may have difficulty in the NHL due to his size and slight build. I think given his body of work in the NHL the Hawks were correct in not overly worrying or focusing on his size.