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Jack Be Nimble, Jack Be Quick |
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Jack be nimble, Jack be quick. Jack jumped over Connor McDavid.
On Saturday afternoon at the NHL Combine in Buffalo, Jack Eichel went head to head with Connor McDavid for the very first time and beat him in five of the six fitness tests.
Eichel impressed all NHL GMs and scouts on hand inside HARBORCenter by finishing in the top five in six of the 15 categories which is the most appearances of anyone. Only goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (five), forward Karch Bachman and defenseman Brendan Guhle (four each) had more than three such finishes in the top five.
When the 2015 NHL Combine ended on Saturday afternoon, Eichel was tied for first place in the physically demanding VO2 max bike test. The American sniper pedaled through mounting adversity and resistance resistance for 12 minutes and 15 seconds while breathing oxygen through a tube. Eichel's VO2 max time was two minutes better than that of McDavid. Eichel also finished first in the right-hand grip, second in an agility test and fifth in the vertical jump (26.18 inches) and standing long jump (9 feet, 7 inches). He was fourth in the bench press, lifting 70 percent to 80 percent of his weight 16 times.
Give the NHL Combine gold medal to Eichel and the silver medal to McDavid.
SCOUTING COMBINE RESULTS
In the standing long jump McDavid scored a 97.3, while Eichel jumped 115"
Vertical Jump: McDavid 19.488" to Eiche's 26.181"
Grip Test: McDavid Left: 4.43, Right: 4.53; Eichel Left: 4.48, Right: 4.24
McDavid bench pressed 70% and 80% of his body weight 9 times to Eichel's 16 reps.
McDavid banged out 6 pull ups to Eichel's 9.
McDavid's Wingate score was 17.49, Eichel's was 17.42
McDavid scored a 10:15 on the VO2 max (bike) while Eichel delivered an impressive 12:15 score.
Thanks, NHL
What does all of this fitness testing and health analytics tell me?
It's plain to me that Eichel is ready to perform in the NHL against men older than him from a physical endurance and respiratory point of view. Like American Pharoah, Eich has proven himself to be an intensely competitive workout warrior and dedicated gym rat who will not be beaten by any other horse in the race. Eichel "raced" against some of the best players in the NHL at the IIHF World Championships in Prague last month and the kid didn't look one iota out of place. In fat, he loked about as poised and in control as some of twenty-somethings that he was competing nose to nose, eye to eye with.
McDavid may be able to dance and dangle in mid air, however, can he win wall battles and protect the puck and make plays consistently against Getzlaf, Kopitar, Perry, Toews, Hossa , Tavares, Stamkos, Crosby, Malkin and the best that the NHL has to offer? Can he shrug off a nasty, clean, shoulder to chest body check thrown at him by Shea Weber or Brent Seabrook?
That remains to be seen.
If Saturday's results are our guide, it would appear that Eichel is the most ready to skate into the NHL and perform under duress in October. McDavid will have to hit the weights at Gary Robert's Bio Steel plant immediately after the combine ends if he wants to bridge the gap between he and Eichel. It's no slight against McDavid that he has to add muscle to his lean body. I watched him play live in teh OHL playoffs against Sarnia, London, The Soo, and Oshawa. Those team had success defending McDavid by hitting him hard and staying in his face the whole game and after whistles. He will kill you if you give him time and space. That's why OHL opponents were grinding him and forcing him out of his comfort zone. If teams try that tactic with Eichel he will simply dig his edges in, drop his shoulder and bulldoze enemt defenders to the ice with his huge legs and strong core.
Advantage: Eichel
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