Scouting Combine 2026

[67 others]

I especially enjoyed this part where you consider yourself to be the spokesman for "hockey fans as a whole". Lines up really well with your other views.

You: Hates Rocky and thinks he should have stayed down because of the threat of CTE, confirmed

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Impressed with Piparinen. Late birthday too.

He and Suvanto both tested better than I’d expect in some of these drills from watching them play. Makes me think they have fair bit of room to improve their skating.

 

[RoadWarrior]

McKenna being essentially at the top of the combine class gives me pause; doesn't have the athletic runway some of these other prospects have.

He's unlikely to gain more of an edge in this area vs his peers, if anything they'll start catching up.

Shades of Lafreniere a bit here where his elite coaching program gave him an edge as a teen that won't translate to his 20's.

This is a ridiculous take. McKenna scored really high in the wingate and VO2max testing indicating he has exceptional lung capacity. That explains why he plays the full 2 minutes on the power play without getting tired.

He still has plenty of room to add more size and strength which will improve his straight line speed and board play. Two areas where he could still use some work.

FYI you don’t really “catch up” in the aerobic testing. You either have the lung capacity or you don’t. His peers will never catch him in that regard.

 

[SympathyForTheDevils]

This is a ridiculous take. McKenna scored really high in the wingate testing indicating he has exceptional lung capacity. That explains why he plays the full 2 minutes on the power play without getting tired.

He still has plenty of room to add more size and strength which will improve his straight line speed and board play. Two areas where he could still use some work.

FYI you don’t really “catch up” in the wingate testing. You either have the lung capacity or you don’t. His peers will never catch him in that regard.

McKenna finished 19th at the Wingate. Which is very good, but not quite "exceptionally above his peers" good. It's the VO2max test where he had the top score.

Also, I don't think it's true that it's impossible to catchup in those areas. Both aerobic and anaerobic capacity can be improved through training. Though I don't think aerobic capacity is typically a big priority for hockey players, given the nature of the sport.

 

[coooldude]

McKenna finished 19th at the Wingate. Which is very good, but not quite "exceptionally above his peers" good. It's the VO2max test where he had the top score.

Also, I don't think it's true that it's impossible to catchup in those areas. Both aerobic and anaerobic capacity can be improved through training. Though I don't think aerobic capacity is typically a big priority for hockey players, given the nature of the sport.

I agree with you that athletes can indeed catch up on both aerobic and anaerobic output as they age. Very few of these kids are finished projects at 18. I don't agree that aerobic capacity is not a big priority. Obviously anaerobic threshold work matters more but aerobic base does help players over the course of the game, and especially if you are pushing for a longer shift at the end of game or in certain situations.

McKenna's testing is only a positive. There's no interpretation where him being in the top 25 of like 8? Some large number of events is anything but good for him. He's an explosive, twitchy athlete with lungs and lots of strength for his size. It doesn't change the questions about his play style and attitude but it certainly shows he has elite tools beyond hand eye coordination and offensive vision.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

You don't need the combine to have weight/height measurements.

Yeah for the most part you do. How do you think Conor Garland was listed at 5'10 for most of his career? Didn't go to the combine that's how.

 

[RoadWarrior]

McKenna finished 19th at the Wingate. Which is very good, but not quite "exceptionally above his peers" good. It's the VO2max test where he had the top score.

Also, I don't think it's true that it's impossible to catchup in those areas. Both aerobic and anaerobic capacity can be improved through training. Though I don't think aerobic capacity is typically a big priority for hockey players, given the nature of the sport.

Endurance most definitely matters in hockey. The ability to sustain a high level of play over 20 minutes of ice time is huge especially on those longer shifts in the 3rd period.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

"The cavemen"

Former Athletes and guys who pushed themselves to the limit and never use sick days unless they are absolutely dying

Vs

As opposed to.... you like the guys who call in to work for every little minor thing leaving the team down a person?

Sorry chubbs. That's not caveman stuff. That's what hockey fans as a whole celebrate and what the winners look for to admire and emulate

Let me guess. You think Rocky is a terrible movie because all you can see is a guy putting himself at risk of CTE and its not worth it to you, as opposed to the point of the movie being a guy who never quits and gut checks through adversity to sneak out the draw against a more skilled opponent?

You remind me of every manager I ever had in fast food and retail.

What "team" would he be letting down by not coughing and sniffing his way through a bunch of tests that will have no impact on him being drafted top 5?

His work was done throughout the year, where he led his gold-medal winning country in scoring at the U20s, went PPG at the WCs, and put up historic numbers in the SHL. If a team needs to see him cough all over a pull up bar to make the decision to draft him, that team is badly run.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I assume most have seen a complete list of height and weight, for those that haven't here's one:2026 NHL Combine Heights & Weights - The Hockey Writers Latest News, Analysis & More

A couple that jumped out at me:
Hurlbert grew to 6'-190, maybe not the biggest deal for a winger, but that might move him up a bit on some boards
Lin didn't unfortunately- 5'll.25- 180- for an average skating d-man, I think he falls to 20 or lower.
It's a really good group of sub 6' D-men this year. A year after none being picked it's gonna be one of the more fascinating story lines on draft night to see where they get picked.

 

[SympathyForTheDevils]

Yeah for the most part you do. How do you think Conor Garland was listed at 5'10 for most of his career? Didn't go to the combine that's how.

Sure, there's wonky team-reported measurements here and there. But there's no real reason that was the case here. Lafreniere was consistently reported as a 6'1-6'2, 190-195 lbs player ever since his draft year. And that's pretty much what he has looked like on the ice.

Endurance most definitely matters in hockey. The ability to sustain a high level of play over 20 minutes of ice time is huge especially on those longer shifts in the 3rd period.

It does matter, like in most sports. It's just not a big priority, like it would be for runners or cyclists. As I understand it, McKenna's VO2max Combine score would be considered very high even for an NHLer in his prime.

That said, it's worth noting that VO2max is influenced by body composition, and generally favours lean athletes. It's not a coincidence that McKenna and Villeneuve were far above the rest (though it's still a credit to their athleticism).

 

[67 others]

You remind me of every manager I ever had in fast food and retail.

What "team" would he be letting down by not coughing and sniffing his way through a bunch of tests that will have no impact on him being drafted top 5?

His work was done throughout the year, where he led his gold-medal winning country in scoring at the U20s, went PPG at the WCs, and put up historic numbers in the SHL. If a team needs to see him cough all over a pull up bar to make the decision to draft him, that team is badly run.

This ain't fast food son. This is the highest level of a professional sport, where you are expected to tough out minor annoyances and dig deep and give 100% Because you will be paid millions of dollars. You don't sit out unless it's something serious. Certainly not for a case of the sniffles.

Even at the combine it sends a message you don't feel you have to keep trying hard because you already made it so why bother putting in extra effort

Jesus GM's are even quoted here saying they want to see who will push it that extra bit even when they are dead tired to see who will quit and who will go till they can't. Those are the winners.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

This ain't fast food son. This is the highest level of a professional sport, where you are expected to tough out minor annoyances and dig deep and give 100% Because you will be paid millions of dollars. You don't sit out unless it's something serious. Certainly not for a case of the sniffles.

Even at the combine it sends a message you don't feel you have to keep trying hard because you already made it so why bother putting in extra effort

Jesus GM's are even quoted here saying they want to see who will push it that extra bit even when they are dead tired to see who will quit and who will go till they can't. Those are the winners.

No it isn't. It's the NHL draft combine.

 

[67 others]

No it isn't. It's the NHL draft combine.

Yes, where they are trying to show the GM's they belong in the highest level sport

GM'S are flat out saying they are watching to see who pushes a little bit harder and who quits without putting in that extra effort.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Yes, where they are trying to show the GM's they belong in the highest level sport

GM'S are flat out saying they are watching to see who pushes a little bit harder and who quits without putting in that extra effort.

That's funny because there appears to be almost no corellation between who does well, or guys you hear were ridin and puking at the same time, and where anybody is drafted. I have yet to hear ever, so and so killed at the combine and moved up multiple rounds. Which makes sense because the actual results appear to have no correlation with what kind of pro career any of these kids will have.

This convo. started 'cause Stenberg is sick. How far do think he's going to drop on draft day? Does San Jose pass, how about Vancouver, if they do can we prove it anything to do with the combine?
If they do drop him for that reason, the FO of those teams are going to look imcompetent imo. Playing in the 4th best men's league in the world and then for your country at the WC is important, how you played there is important. Riding a bike till you puke, not so much.

 

[StreetHawk]

I assume most have seen a complete list of height and weight, for those that haven't here's one:2026 NHL Combine Heights & Weights - The Hockey Writers Latest News, Analysis & More

A couple that jumped out at me:
Hurlbert grew to 6'-190, maybe not the biggest deal for a winger, but that might move him up a bit on some boards
Lin didn't unfortunately- 5'll.25- 180- for an average skating d-man, I think he falls to 20 or lower.
It's a really good group of sub 6' D-men this year. A year after none being picked it's gonna be one of the more fascinating story lines on draft night to see where they get picked.

Brork coming in under 5'10 is a negative. He's 5'9 and not much more.

Lin under 6 feet is going to be an issue unless teams believe he can deliver offense to compensate being under the average Dman size.

NHL combine numbers are never "final" compared to the NFL. Height, NFL I don't think anyone is growing once they are 20-23. NHL, some kids not yet 18. Still have a slight chance to gain another cm or so. Most are probably at their adult height.

Weight will change. Just a matter of whether you have the frame/build to add the weight you need.

Thomas Vandenberg is under 6 ft 180 lbs. But, he tries to play a heavier game than that. Could end up getting hurt like Brule as he had a similar mentality. Will need time to fill out. He's projected to be a 2nd or might fall to rd 3. But, he will need a good 3 years in NCAA to build up his body.

 

[67 others]

That's funny because there appears to be almost no corellation between who does well, or guys you hear were ridin and puking at the same time, and where anybody is drafted. I have yet to hear ever, so and so killed at the combine and moved up multiple rounds. Which makes sense because the actual results appear to have no correlation with what kind of pro career any of these kids will have.

This convo. started 'cause Stenberg is sick. How far do think he's going to drop on draft day? Does San Jose pass, how about Vancouver, if they do can we prove it anything to do with the combine?
If they do drop him for that reason, the FO of those teams are going to look imcompetent imo. Playing in the 4th best men's league in the world and then for your country at the WC is important, how you played there is important. Riding a bike till you puke, not so much.

Who cares about the results? That's secondary. Its about the competitiveness. The drive. The pushing when tired to see who has that extra gear to keep pushing when they are tired.....because that is REALLY hard to teach. You can say anything in a job interview. "Oh yeah im the hardest worker. I never stop" but anyone can say that. You still call their old employers to get their opinions and ask how coachable a person was and pay close attention during the skill assessment portion of the interview when you get them to do makeshift work.

GM's just flat out said in comments in the last day they were watching that

In a draft where picks 2 to 6 are considered very close, this stuff could easily make a difference in some GM's minds.

 

[brrt]

Who cares about the results? That's secondary. Its about the competitiveness. The drive. The pushing when tired to see who has that extra gear to keep pushing when they are tired.....because that is REALLY hard to teach. You can say anything in a job interview. "Oh yeah im the hardest worker. I never stop" but anyone can say that. You still call their old employers to get their opinions and ask how coachable a person was and pay close attention during the skill assessment portion of the interview when you get them to do makeshift work.

GM's just flat out said in comments in the last day they were watching that

In a draft where picks 2 to 6 are considered very close, this stuff could easily make a difference in some GM's minds.

They just say shit that sounds good. Verbeek and Kekäläinen said they were disappointed that Carlsson and Fantilli wouldn't do the tests because they wanted to see more competitiveness from them, they still went 2 and 3.

Nobody is dropping a player they actually like because they look like a p***y on the Wingate. Players they aren't fans of? Sure. But they wouldn't be the team to draft the players they don't like anyhow.