NHL Combine Results: Top Prospects Shine in Various Drills
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The 2025 NHL Scouting Combine recently took place in Buffalo, providing all 32 teams with a final opportunity to assess the top prospects before the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles. According to Sportsnet.ca, fitness testing was a central component of the combine, along with individual meetings between teams and prospects.
### Understanding the Drills
The combine featured a range of drills designed to test the athletes’ physical abilities. These drills included grip strength, aerobic fitness, wingspan, standing long jump, jump station, bench press, pro agility test, pull-ups, and the Wingate cycle ergometer test. Sportsnet.ca provided a detailed explanation of each drill.
### Grip Strength
The grip strength drill required athletes to adjust a hand grip dynamometer to their hand size, fully extend their arm, and squeeze the dynamometer as forcefully as possible. This test was conducted on both hands. The results showed that the top prospects excelled in this area, demonstrating their overall strength and power.
### Aerobic Fitness
The aerobic fitness test assessed the athletes’ capacity to supply oxygen to their muscles during maximal exercise. This was measured by determining the amount of oxygen utilised during exercise, employing volume determination and analysis of expired air. Sportsnet.ca reported that the top prospects showed impressive aerobic fitness levels, indicating their ability to sustain high-intensity efforts over a prolonged period.
### Wingspan and Height
The wingspan test required athletes to extend their arms straight out to the sides, with the wingspan measured to the nearest quarter inch from the middle finger tip to middle finger tip. Height was also measured, providing teams with a comprehensive understanding of each prospect’s physical attributes.
### Standing Long Jump and Jump Station
The standing long jump drill required athletes to stand with their feet slightly apart, with their toes behind the jumping line. Using an arm swing to assist, they jumped as far as possible. The jump station test, which utilised an AccuPower Dual Force Plate system, objectively measured the direction, strength, and timing of the three-dimensional forces produced during hockey-related movement.
### Bench Press and Pro Agility Test
The bench press drill involved athletes lifting 50 per cent of their body weight on a standard padded bench. The pro agility test, also known as the 5-10-5 yard shuttle, evaluated multi-directional speed, agility, and whole body reaction, plus control.
### Pull-Ups and Wingate Cycle Ergometer Test
The pull-up test required athletes to perform as many consecutive pull-ups as possible while maintaining correct technique. The Wingate cycle ergometer test involved athletes warming up by pedalling at a low resistance for two minutes before performing specific intervals while seated.
### Conclusion
The 2025 NHL Scouting Combine provided valuable insights into the physical abilities of the top prospects. According to Sportsnet.ca, the results will likely influence team decisions at the 2025 NHL Draft. As reported by Sportsnet.ca, the combine testing information was courtesy of NHL Central Scouting, with graphics provided by Erika Vanderveer.
Graphics courtesy of Erika Vanderveer. Combine testing information courtesy of NHL Central Scouting, as reported by Sportsnet.ca.
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