The prospects gathered at the 2017 NHL Scouting Combine will participate in fitness testing on Saturday. Those tests help determine a number of factors, including stamina, strength, flexibility and more.
While some say the interviews or, of course, on-ice footage are the most important factors in evaluating the players in Buffalo, the Oilers scouts in attendance like to take all the information together in making decisions come draft day.
"It's all pieces of a puzzle," said Oilers Assistant GM Keith Gretzky.
As for the fitness testing specifically, Gretzky and the Oilers brass use it much like any other team would.
"You want to know how hard they work, that's the biggest thing," said Gretzky. "If a kid doesn't give his all, we have our trainers here watching him and we can determine who is giving the effort the whole time. You want to see them do their best and have high scores. Of course, we'll go through it, see the red flags and discuss it."
BLOG: Evaluating the fitness testing
© Jen Fuller/Getty Images
