Sarnia's Chychrun excels in Top Prospects testing

Thursday, 01.28.2016 / 3:16 PM | Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer

VANCOUVER -- Sarnia defenseman Jakob Chychrun provided NHL scouts one more reason why they should consider him the top player at his position for the 2016 NHL Draft at First Niagara Center in Buffalo on June 24-25.

Chychrun, who will captain Team Don Cherry at the 2016 BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on Thursday at Pacific Coliseum (9 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, TVA Sports), exceled in the on- and off-ice testing Wednesday performed by all 40 participating players for NHL management and scouts.

The combine data was supplied to NHL Central Scouting and representatives from all 30 teams.

Chychrun a 6-foot-2, 215-pound defender ranked No. 2 on NHL Central Scouting's midterm list of North American skaters eligible for the draft, was second among all players and first among defensemen in the on-ice portion of the tests, which included seven specialized drills. He also finished first among all players in the off-ice tests. All testing was conducted by Sport Testing.

"It's pretty cool because I've always taken pride in on- and off-ice fitness testing and it's nice to see it pay off," Chychrun said Thursday. "[Wednesday] was a long day but a fun one."

On-ice tests included forward and backward skating sprints, reaction drills, weave agility drills and transition agility drills, all performed with and without the puck. The off-ice testing evaluated strength and included agility runs, sprints and leg power tests.

Chychrun placed first among all players in the 30-meter forward sprint with the puck with a time of 3.789 seconds and was second in the weave agility with puck in 10.486 seconds. In the off-ice tests he was first in the medicine ball toss (22 feet, 4 inches) and second in right-hand grip strength.

"There were a couple of hard tests; you do everything first without a puck and the ice gets chewed up and then you have to do it with a puck when the ice is worse so that is challenging," Chychrun said. "You just try and enjoy it. And I was trying to beat my teammate Jordan Kyrou."

Kyrou, a 6-foot, 178-pound center with Sarnia (Ontario Hockey League), was first among all players in the on-ice testing and fifth in the off-ice testing. He was second among in the 30-meter forward race (3.926) and transition agility (12.919 seconds). Kyrou, who will play for Team Cherry, is No. 45 on Central Scouting's midterm ranking.

"I'm happy for [Kyrou] because he's a heck of a skater, heck of a player and we're looking forward to playing together," Chychrun said. "You ask anybody and I think they'll say he was the steal of the [2014 OHL draft] in the second round for Sarnia. He's a heck of a player and it's going to be a big night for him. He has a chance to show everyone what he can do; he had a great rookie season [in 2014-15] and is looking to end strong with us."

Calgary (Western Hockey League) defenseman Jake Bean, No. 13 on Central Scouting's midterm list, was third among players in the on-ice testing. Tied for fourth were No. 20 forward Alexander DeBrincat of Erie (OHL) and No. 26 defenseman Libor Hajek of Saskatoon (WHL). Bean and Hajek will play for Team Bobby Orr, DeBrincat for Team Cherry.

In the goalie tests, Dylan Wells of Peterborough (OHL), No. 5 on Central Scouting's midterm list of North American goaltenders, earned the top score on tests in reaction, agility and movement challenges. Wells (6-1, 187) will play for Team Orr.

Everett goaltender Carter Hart (6-foot, 177), No. 1 on Central Scouting's midterm list for goalies, had the second-best score.

Here are the projected lineups:

TEAM CHERRY

Max Jones - Logan Brown - Jordan Kyrou

Timothy Gettinger - Michael McLeod - Alexander DeBrincat

Noah Gregor - Dillon Dube - Julien Gauthier

Ty Ronning - Sam Steel - Vitaly Abramov

Jakob Chychrun - Kale Clague

Markus Niemelainen - Samuel Girard

Lucas Johansen - Sean Day

Evan Fitzpatrick

Zachary Sawchenko