NHL draft combine

The National Hockey League (NHL), known in French as Ligue Nationale de Hockey (LNH), is a premier professional ice hockey league encompassing 32 teams across North America. It was established on November 26, 1917, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and began its inaugural season in 1917–18. Gary Bettman serves as the league's commissioner.

The NHL consists of 25 teams in the United States, including one currently inactive in Arizona, and 7 teams in Canada. Its headquarters are located at One Manhattan West, 395 Ninth Avenue, New York City. The league's most recent champion is the Vegas Golden Knights, who secured their first title in the 2022–23 season.

The Montreal Canadiens hold the record for the most championships, with 25 titles to their name. The NHL's broadcast partners include Sportsnet, CBC, and TVA Sports in Canada, and ABC, ESPN, TNT, and TBS in the United States, with streaming coverage available on platforms such as ESPN+, Hulu, and Amazon.

NHL Draft Combine

The NHL Draft Combine is an annual event where over 100 top hockey prospects undergo a series of tests to showcase their athletic abilities and potentially improve their draft stock. Tests include anthropometrics, strength assessments like grip strength and bench press, power evaluations such as vertical and long jumps, and both anaerobic (Wingate test) and aerobic (VO2 max) assessments. Despite its comprehensive nature, research suggests a weak correlation between combined results and on-ice performance metrics like acceleration, agility, and speed. Similarly, while anaerobic and aerobic power is measured, their predictive value for draft position remains limited.

NHL Draft Combine results

The 2024 NHL Scouting Combine took place on June 7 and 8 at LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo, New York, featuring the top 100 prospects vying to impress NHL teams ahead of the draft.

Aerobic Fitness (VO2 Max):

Oliver Josephson and Tij Iginla tied for the highest VO2 Max score at 65.0 ML/KG/MIN, followed closely by Simon Zether at 64.0 ML/KG/MIN. Macklin Celebrini and Max Plante both achieved a score of 63.0 ML/KG/MIN, highlighting their strong aerobic capacity.

Bench Press (50% of Body Weight) (Watts/KG):

Cole Beaudoin led the field with an impressive 8.71 Watts/KG, demonstrating his upper-body strength relative to body weight. Lukas Fischer followed with 8.26 Watts/KG, while John Mustard rounded out the top three with 7.78 Watts/KG.

Pull-Ups:

Zeev Buium showcased exceptional upper-body strength by completing 16 pull-ups, securing the top spot in this test. Lukas Fischer followed closely with 15 pull-ups, demonstrating his physical prowess. Colton Roberts and Jack Pridham tied for third with 13 pull-ups each.

Grip Strength: Right Hand (Pounds):

Jett Luchanko exhibited the strongest grip with 175 pounds, illustrating his physical dominance in this category. Cayden Lindstrom followed with 166 pounds, while Colton Roberts and Gabriel Eliasson tied at 165 pounds, showcasing their strong grip capabilities.

Vertical Jump (Inches):

E.J. Emery soared to the top with a remarkable 27.23-inch vertical jump, showcasing his explosive lower-body power. Jett Luchanko followed closely with 24.63 inches, demonstrating his athleticism. Veeti Vaisanen rounded out the top three with a 24.22-inch jump.

Pro Agility (Left) (Seconds):

Stian Solberg displayed exceptional agility with a quick 4.12-second performance in the pro agility drill. Kamil Bednarik followed with 4.25 seconds, while John Mustard was close behind with 4.26 seconds, demonstrating their agility and quickness on the ice.

NHL Draft Combine Top Prospect Performances

At the 2024 NHL draft combine, top prospects Macklin Celebrini, Artyom Levshunov, and Tij Iginla distinguished themselves with standout performances.

Macklin Celebrini, widely anticipated as the top pick in the 2024 NHL draft, showcased his skills at the combine. He achieved a notable VO2 Max score of 63.0 ML/KG/MIN. Despite his size, measuring 5'11.75" and 197 pounds, Celebrini impressed with his speed and skill, traits that make him a likely candidate for the first overall selection.

Artyom Levshunov, a defenseman projected to go early in the draft, displayed his athleticism with a 22.64-inch vertical jump, positioning him well for impact on the blue line. Standing at 6'1.75" and weighing 205 pounds, Levshunov also showcased his engaging personality off the ice during media interactions.

Tij Iginla, rising up on the draft boards, demonstrated his all-around athleticism at the combine. He posted an impressive VO2 Max score of 65.0 ML/KG/MIN, tying for the highest among participants.