Day 1: NHL Draft Combine - Fitness Testing (Day 2 Added)

[Shep]

DAY 1

Well, one day, one to go.

First of all, fucking amazing. This is such an amazing experience words cannot express it. I met and talked to Steve Yzerman today, I met John Ferguson Jr. (yay..) and I saw a bunch of other NHL GMs Dale Tallon and George McPhee and hockey personnel like Bob McKenzie and Gord Miller. When they play it on TSN tonight, I'll probably be on TV numerous times.

First, I'll start off with who the Leaf scout was looking at the most (he was sitting right behind the station I was running). When John McFarland came out, it seemed as if this scout followed him around to 4 or 5 of the fitness stations. So I can only assume that is who Burke targets if he lands a 1st in the 20's. Also, I noticed him writing rigorously when: Brock Beukeboom, Brock Nelson, Jonathon Merrill and Bradley Ross came around to where he was sitting more often.

Also, the Ducks seemed very intrigued in Jake Gardiner's brother, Max Gardiner. Talking it up a lot about him.

The Ducks/Leafs scouts also talked a lot near the end. I couldn't hear too well because the Leaf scout was a fag and talked SO quietly and hid his note sheet more than anybody else, but the Ducks Scout was saying how such bad shape they are in if/when Niedermayer leaves and such like that. Then within a sentence or two later I heard the Ducks scout something about "a prick" and "arrogant". Now I don't know if that's about Niedermayer, but it was literally like 15 seconds later, so you never know.

A lot of scouts seemed concerned with Alexander Petrovic. His heart rate was 208 after only 40 seconds on the bike, which apparently is insanely retardedly high. And it was the highest on the day for anybody, as well.

I'll go through a couple prospects that stuck out for me, both good and bad, and any other questions you have (there are still some to get tested tomorrow), I'll best the answer I can, regarding said prospect. Just so you know, the tests that I had a clear view to witness were: The VO2 max test, where they are riding the bike for something like 20-30 minutes. It's insane. Then I also could see the Windgate Bike test, which is pretty much the Maximize "all out" for 40 seconds with tension on the bike. I was running the balance test, and I could also see the Agility Test, Vertical Leap, Long Jump, Ball throw. So my observations are based on that.

Okay, so the Good:

Jack Campbell - This guy is a fucking beast. Seriously. His leg strength was insane and he almost maxed out on the Vertical Leap. You just saw scouts pay all the attention to him as he did his 2nd and 3rd trial. Same with the Long Jump. It was just insane the leg strength he had.

Nick Bjugstad - Same as Jack Campbell, since most of the tests I saw were based on leg strength. His Vertical Leap and Long Jump were nuts. I think he had one of the faster times on the Agility Test as well.

Tyler Seguin - This man is fucking JACKED. I don't think there is an ounce of fat on him. His Vertical Leap didn't stand out to me, but his balance and bike tests did. He seemed to be going the hardest at the end of the 40 second sprint compared to everybody else.

Mark Alt - Insane vertical leap as well. He came within 2 notches of being at the max. Just nuts.

Evgeny Kuznetsov - Two words: He cares. He was the hardest worker out of all the Russians there, IMO. His results were fairly average (what I saw), however he was giving it his all. Which brings me to the bad..

The Disappointing:

Maxim Kitsyn - Seriously, I don't know why he came. He looked so lackadaisical and looked like he was giving 50%. The bike, when they are all yelling "HARD, HARD!!!!!" he was just coasting through and didn't even go hard. It was almost embarrassing.

Taylor Hall - He's not actually bad, he just didn't participate in anything near me because of his lingering injuries, so I only saw him for like 5 minutes when he entered to sign in. Kind of a let down.

Nino Niedrreiter - Not anything was really BAD, but ... nothing stuck out at all and average from what I observed. Maybe I was just hoping for more..


Well that's all I am going to write for now, and all I can think of for little tidbits I picked up along the day. If you have any questions about specific prospects (Assuming they have been tested, and most of the "big" names have), I'll do my best to answer your question(s).

It was a fucking long ass day to say the least. I left my house at 5:30am, and got home at 7:00pm. But I loved it..


DAY 2

Today was a lot shorter. About half of the prospects that there was yesterday, and not really many big names. Most of the top 50 players went yesterday, today was more 3rd rounders with some projected 1st and 2nd rounders sprinkled in.

Yesterday I met Yzerman, today I met Mark Messier. Nice guy, although again it was only like a 10-20 second confrontation.

I think the Leaf scout purposely sat away from me because I tried to listen to everything he said lol. Oh well. Bruce Boudreau and one of the retarded Sutters were there as well. No media coverage today, just one camera in the entire building I believe. I ran into Boudreau in the bathroom. I didn't wanna say much because it feels like such a weird place to talk to somebody lol.

Again, not many "star" athletes were there today, so I'm only going to cover the "good" from a couple guys I saw..

Stephen Silas - He was the Tyler Seguin of today, in the sense that he was so fucking jacked I can't begin to explain it. Nothing stood out in fitness in particular (his balance was pretty good though). Just wanted to point out this guy is build like a brick wall.

Jonathan Johansson - This guy powered through the Wingate sprint. He finished almost as hard as he started (or so it seemed form the untrained eye). There was buzz behind me as he finished because he didn't seem to slow down very much.

Dylan McIlrath - At first, I was like "meh". But then he hopped on the bike, and that's where he did great. His agility was alright, but.

Justin Shugg - I didn't catch anything until he got to my tests, the Equilibrium tests (IE- the Balance Board). This kid fucking raped it. He didn't touch the ground once and was only the 2nd person out of everybody from both days to do it out of 100. Insane.


I made some nice contacts while I was there, hopefully I can snag a nice job from this experience.

Again, anybody you have questions on. Let me know and I'll tell you what I remember. Likely if I don't remember much, they didn't stand out or I didn't catch them on the bikes (which is where it's easier to noticed the good and the bad).

[Shep]

TSN is showing the combine highlights from 7:30-8:30

Put it on.

[armandtanzarian]

Awesome stuff Shep! I am not sure who the Bruins main scout is but I am really curious to see who they may have been following other than the BEAST. That 15th overall pick intrigues me and am curious as to who they may be looking at. If you can get a look i would love any inside scoop you may get.

I really like what you wrote about Seguin. In his TSN interview he looked jacked. I know the majority thinks Hall will go no. 1 so it is a safe assumption that Seguin will be a Bruin (and yes, he will be on the wing) It is like xmas waiting for the draft...

That Vo2 max test looks so brutal...

[MSP4LYFE]

Awesome stuff Shep! I am not sure who the Bruins main scout is but I am really curious to see who they may have been following other than the BEAST. That 15th overall pick intrigues me and am curious as to who they may be looking at. If you can get a look i would love any inside scoop you may get.

I really like what you wrote about Seguin. In his TSN interview he looked jacked. I know the majority thinks Hall will go no. 1 so it is a safe assumption that Seguin will be a Bruin (and yes, he will be on the wing) It is like xmas waiting for the draft...

That Vo2 max test looks so brutal...

I will bet you $1000.00 Seguin does not play the wing in boston...

[Nick]

Awesome stuff Shep! I am not sure who the Bruins main scout is but I am really curious to see who they may have been following other than the BEAST. That 15th overall pick intrigues me and am curious as to who they may be looking at. If you can get a look i would love any inside scoop you may get.

I really like what you wrote about Seguin. In his TSN interview he looked jacked. I know the majority thinks Hall will go no. 1 so it is a safe assumption that Seguin will be a Bruin (and yes, he will be on the wing) It is like xmas waiting for the draft...

That Vo2 max test looks so brutal...

I will bet you $1000.00 Seguin does not play the wing in boston...

I'm with kareem here.. the guy is as natural a Centre as they come....everything about him is a centre

[anton]

holy fuck at that tsn interview with seguin.

kid is a beast for 18...

[Nick]

not to be rude but they all are....

John MacFarland put up some intense strength #'s (thought according to my in at hockey canada he has the hockey IQ of a baboon).


Emmerson Etem seemed to be the best of the late date kids... and hall was right up there with every test he did take part in....


honestly, like bob said, good fitness is not alway a great thing... imagine if hall or seguin were fat!!! there would be so much more left on the table!!! but would they work hard enough to get there? or even hard enough to be a good NHLer?

[anton]

not to be rude but they all are....

lol dude, obviously they are all in shape, but physique-wise seguin is a step above. very few 18 year olds, even the top athletes, look like this.





no homo.

[Nick]

that reeks of homosexuality there anton.


and i saw that he's at simmer levels of body fat... supposedly a few others are right there with him>

[Shep]

Seguin and Pereira looked the most jacked out of them all.

[armandtanzarian]

holy ol fuck am i ever excited to see that guy in black and gold. I feel kind of dirty looking at those pictures...

[armandtanzarian]

Who in Boston would be moved to wing from the centers to allow Seguin to play wing. Krejci, Bergeron, Savard or Sobotka? Seguin is not going to play the 4th line in Boston so Bergeron? One of the top faceoff men in the league? I agree, he is a very natural center but barring a big trade in Beantown, I am not sure what will go down.

Honestly, I can still see Edmonton taking Seguin. I mean you really cant lose with either of these two so...But i know you always take bpa. I just think these players as overall packages are very close and individual team needs may come more into play for EDMonton. who knows...draft day will be fun..

[MSP4LYFE]

Who in Boston would be moved to wing from the centers to allow Seguin to play wing. Krejci, Bergeron, Savard or Sobotka? Seguin is not going to play the 4th line in Boston so Bergeron? One of the top faceoff men in the league? I agree, he is a very natural center but barring a big trade in Beantown, I am not sure what will go down.

Honestly, I can still see Edmonton taking Seguin. I mean you really cant lose with either of these two so...But i know you always take bpa. I just think these players as overall packages are very close and individual team needs may come more into play for EDMonton. who knows...draft day will be fun..

IF Boston selects Seguin, I suspect they will do one of two things, let him develop an additional season while they sort our their center situation, or deal Krejci/Savard/Bergeron outright. You don't move an 18 year old top 2 pick from center to wing, that would be HORRIFIC management by the Bruins. A center is more valuable then a winger, so it should stand to reason that Boston would opt to preserve their best centerman, especially this early into their career. My guess is that Krejci is the odd man out, would love the Leafs to re-explore a Kaberle to Boston swap, but this time for Krejci.

[anton]

krecji to the leafs solves that problem...

:sick

[armandtanzarian]

Nope, Steve already told me that Kaberle to the Bruins for the 15th overall and Marchand isall but done.

[Mash]

that reeks of homosexuality there anton.

I seem to recall a certain someone sending me VERY homo pictures via MSN of hockey player playing tennis? HOMO. <3

[Shep]

Updated the first post with Day 2 stuff.

Again, just ask about a prospect.

[MSP4LYFE]

Updated the first post with Day 2 stuff.

Again, just ask about a prospect.

Want to know about the following players if possible:

Stanislav Galiev
Kirill Kabanov
Greg Mckegg
Devante Smith Pelley
Tom Kunhackl
Beau Bennett
Marcus Johanssen
Alexander Burmistrov

[Shep]

Updated the first post with Day 2 stuff.

Again, just ask about a prospect.

Want to know about the following players if possible:

Stanislav Galiev
Kirill Kabanov
Greg Mckegg
Devante Smith Pelley
Tom Kunhackl
Beau Bennett
Marcus Johanssen
Alexander Burmistrov

Stanislav Galiev - This man is not human. He dominated almost every fitness test he took. The ones I didn't see him at, seemed to be his best. His leg strength was up there with the very best at the combine, and overall might have had the best leg strength and power at the combine when all tests are considered. I didn't see any endurance tests for him though. However, he could not do 1 rep for the bench press which was set at 150lbs.

Kirill Kabanov - Good conditioning and arm strength. Leg strength left a lot to be desired though.

Greg Mckegg - Like Kabanov, his upper body and arm strength was awesome. However, his leg tests didn't show too much. Although if I am remembering correctly, he scored fairly high on the agility test too.

Devante Smith Pelley - Nothing stood out in particular (wasn't as ripped as some of the others), but he scored high in the Leg Power and Upper Body power tests (just 2). So take that for what it's worth.

Tom Kunhackl - I didn't really see him other than on my balance test, in which he did average or slightly above. Nothing particularly stands out with the name, and the really good and really bad stuck out haha.

Beau Bennett - He raped the vertical leap jump which shows great driving leg power.

Marcus Johanssen - He wasn't there.

Alexander Burmistrov - He was one of the few I got to see do the VO2 test. Now, I have no idea how it's actually measured or anything. Like, they go for as long as they can I believe, and have to go hard in spurts and weight gets added on. You can clearly see some people really fading off as it goes on, but I saw him near the end and he was still pushing hard and doing great. So this would show GREAT endurance and stamina and such.

Hope that helps.

[MSP4LYFE]

That helps a ton Ryan, thanks alot.