News from the Draft combine

[bubbsy]

if we get monohan, i'd prefer we leave him in ottawa so he can dominate the OHL next season, then hopefully make the jump straight to the NHL the year after.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I think Monahan might be close. He has a late birthday and is almost a year older than the likes of many of the other high first rounders. One more year of physical maturity goes a long way at that age.

I agree that he is close but another year to mature and probably go to the WJC I think would help. I also get giddy of the though Monahan, Gaudreau, potentially Sam Reinhart/Ekbad, plus the other firsts this year making the jump together next year.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Is that normal for the top picks?

To me, that sounds lazy or like they think it might actually hurt their position if they did do the tests.

When the kids are clearly that good at hockey, I really don't think the physical tests matter. Scouts have seen what they're capable of in game situations.

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by nik-

Interviews have started at least. I don't know when the physical testing starts.

fitness test's go for two days; today and tomorrow

this site shows the tests they do, and results from past years

http://www.topendsports.com/sport/ic.../nhl-draft.htm

[sureLoss]

Sounds like the Flames interviewed Adam Erne, but he either he didn't impress enough to get an invite to Calgary or he declined the invitation:

Mark Masters ‏@markhmasters 5m Remparts Adam Erne on teams he'd love to play for: NYR (dad is a huge fan) & Caps (always loved Ovechkin) but stresses any team will do


Mark Masters ‏@markhmasters 3m Remparts Adam Erne did 28 interviews at combine with only Dallas & Pittsburgh opting not to question him; 'It was a long week'


Mark Masters ‏@markhmasters 2m Remparts Adam Erne has accepted invites to attend combines being organized by Toronto, NJ, Buffalo & Ottawa

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Is that normal for the top picks?

To me, that sounds lazy or like they think it might actually hurt their position if they did do the tests.

Doubt it. I don't think the fitness tests will change anything at all. A team is not going to pass on a franchise player because he opted out of doing a Vertical Leap and VO2 test. By this point the teams know who these guys are on the ice and what they're physically capable of on the ice they'll care more about find out what his head is like (the interviews) and ensuring that they're not drafting someone with a game changing medical problem (Medical Exams).

[MissTeeks]

Mark Masters‏@markhmasters14m
Seth Jones was given a medical exemption from today's combine; nursing some bumps & bruises after playing more than 90 games this season

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Doubt it. I don't think the fitness tests will change anything at all. A team is not going to pass on a franchise player because he opted out of doing a Vertical Leap and VO2 test. By this point the teams know who these guys are on the ice and what they're physically capable of on the ice they'll care more about find out what his head is like (the interviews) and ensuring that they're not drafting someone with a game changing medical problem (Medical Exams).

Even if they tested poorly (which I highly doubt since they'd still be in game shape after having just finished the Memorial Cup tournament), I would think teams would still draft them top 5.

[PlayfulGenius]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

Drouin decided not to do testing at the Combine this morning. Sounds like Jones and MacKinnon won't either.

"@Aportzline: Jonathan Drouin has declined to go through the combine fitness tests. Talk to him in a minute, but likely feels he has nothing left to prove"

"@Aportzline: Indications are that neither D Seth Jones nor C Nathan MacKinnon - the presumed 1-2 overall - will go through testing, either."

I've thought about his several times... I always thought it was weird for the top ranked guys to go through all that testing when they're already at the top... There's nowhere for them to go but down, I think they're smart to decline.

[zukes]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

if we get monohan, i'd prefer we leave him in London so he can dominate the OHL next season, then hopefully make the jump straight to the NHL the year after.

Fixed that for you. If he goes to the OHL, the Knights trade for him by mid-season.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

Drouin decided not to do testing at the Combine this morning. Sounds like Jones and MacKinnon won't either.

"@Aportzline: Jonathan Drouin has declined to go through the combine fitness tests. Talk to him in a minute, but likely feels he has nothing left to prove"

"@Aportzline: Indications are that neither D Seth Jones nor C Nathan MacKinnon - the presumed 1-2 overall - will go through testing, either."

That should be a bit of a flag. They didn't do well against the bigger Saskatoon team. Saskatoon is not that big compared to any NHL team other than the 2012-13 Flames.

The next level.... Barkov, Nichushkin, Lindholm are all bigger and have all been playing against men and have likely focussed a lot on their strength in order to be competitive.


These guys have to be pretty aware how they compare to the results of the the last top picks... Hall, Seguin, Skinner, Tavares etc and if they had comparable or better results they would want to wow the combine.

Maybe they are not as NHL ready as top 3's in historically strong drafts are expected to be.

Either way it gives the impression that they are not totally gung ho with the program.

Dustin Boyd was very skilful and pretty dominate in junior, albeit as a 19 year old but never was able to be strong enough to succeed in the NHL.

Nemisz was shocked at the conditioning level of the average NHL player...at his first training camp. He thought he was working out hard and in great shape but was at the bottom of the tests. If the Flames had paid attention to his combine results?????

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Is that normal for the top picks?

To me, that sounds lazy or like they think it might actually hurt their position if they did do the tests.

I'd suspect most, if not all the prospects who played in the Memorial Cup are taking a pass on the testing (inc. the top guys). Everyone else has had weeks or months to rest, heal and train

[MissTeeks]

Chris Johnston‏@reporterchris7m

Dale Tallon says it's not a big deal that the top prospects all skipped physical testing at the combine. "The puck doesn't weigh that much"

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

Dale Tallon says it's not a big deal that the top prospects all skipped physical testing at the combine. "The puck doesn't weigh that much"

Ha! Fonzie Cool Points to Dale Tallon for that quip.

[sureLoss]

Aaron Portzline ‏@Aportzline 3m Tallon said he's willing to move down from No. 2 spot. "I have to explore it. This is a fun part of the job, finding out how people ... "

Aaron Portzline ‏@Aportzline 2m "... value that pick, what they're willing to give up for it. That's what makes this fun. It was a painful year for us."

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

Chris Johnston‏@reporterchris7m

Dale Tallon says it's not a big deal that the top prospects all skipped physical testing at the combine. "The puck doesn't weigh that much"

This is one thing that drives me nuts about Twitter. Why did the other person even bother tweeting that information if there was no real value in it?

/rant

[Canada 02]

the top three guys are going to be very rich (duh); they just signed endorsment deals with Reebok-CCM

CCM Hockey ‏@CCMHockey 17h Press Conference done! Jones, MacKinnon and Drouin join @GabeLandeskog92 @JonnyHuby11 @91Tavares @RNH_93 @AGally94 #StartYourLegend

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Sounds like the Flames interviewed Adam Erne, but he either he didn't impress enough to get an invite to Calgary or he declined the invitation:

Mark Masters ‏@markhmasters 5m Remparts Adam Erne on teams he'd love to play for: NYR (dad is a huge fan) & Caps (always loved Ovechkin) but stresses any team will do


Mark Masters ‏@markhmasters 3m Remparts Adam Erne did 28 interviews at combine with only Dallas & Pittsburgh opting not to question him; 'It was a long week'


Mark Masters ‏@markhmasters 2m Remparts Adam Erne has accepted invites to attend combines being organized by Toronto, NJ, Buffalo & Ottawa

I would love the flames to pick him with the St.Louis pick. Not sure he will still be around. Hoping his interview with the flames was not a total bomb.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by PlayfulGenius

I've thought about his several times... I always thought it was weird for the top ranked guys to go through all that testing when they're already at the top... There's nowhere for them to go but down, I think they're smart to decline.

2010 draft 3rd pick Gubransson EL contract 3.2M 4th pick Ryan Johansen 2M
That is 3.6M difference

7th pick.... likely the 3rd best player in that draft class - Skinner 1.4M

.

If the Flames were picking 3rd I would think that Drouin would drop from 3rd to 4th and Barkov would be picked 3rd.

With Barkov and Nichushkin in the mix Drouin had better have good interviews and reasons not to be tested or might be falling to 5th.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

if we get monohan, i'd prefer we leave him in ottawa so he can dominate the OHL next season, then hopefully make the jump straight to the NHL the year after.

Problem is Ottawa will likely suck bad again this year and that wont help him at all, the flames have no expectations for playoffs so if he's remotely ready he should play.