Gotta See It: Matthews shows off his fitness at NHL Combine

Watch as the expected no. 1 overall Auston Matthews is sent through the ringer that is the NHL Combine fitness test.

[@HamiltonRb]

He could have lifted 5 lbs & he was still going to get picked 1st overall.

[@ffryan]

I read a biography about Mario Lemieux years ago. Apparently he could barely bench press 150 as a rookie in the NHL.

[@louis-charlesbedard8126]

@@ffryan that’s unimpressive

[@woosteppa7017]

That guy at the end had me hyped up to LOOL

[@trentlaveson9451]

He's has some super slow footwork on land but on ice he's so goddamn fast

[@paulshelton4920]

On ice he’s fast? You do know he was clocked outside the top 350 skaters in the NHL right? He skates hard One way. Certainly not the other way. You can’t mention speed and Matthews in the same sentence. Now! If you want to talk speed of his wrist shot then.....

[@billiscool7647]

@@paulshelton4920 Your comment looks like trash two years later. If you would actually take the time to look up his offensive stats you would see a clear difference, he was one of the top defensive forwards in the league last year even while winning the rocket Richard! Though I doubt you would take the time to check the analytics cause you don’t want to be proven wrong, so fair enough

[@hockey_all_star5895]

@@paulshelton4920 your comment couldn’t have aged worse

[@maxguo1173]

@@paulshelton4920 comment aged amazingly lmfao hes one of the best defensive centers rn

[@guam5149]

@@hockey_all_star5895he’s still slow af

[@ffryan]

I have never understood why hockey players do a combine designed for football players. Almost none of these drills translate to on-ice performance.

[@lucasliw5371]

Thats where you are wrong my guy

[@ncucomics287]

@@lucasliw5371 They don't.

[@bfdia51]

​@@lucasliw5371 honestly how do some of these translate to the ice. How do pull ups relate to the ice. Ig you can argue just overall strength. But the shuttle? Hockey players physically can't change direction like that on the ice. There isn't grip like how basketball players have grip. It's just for overall fitness not anything to do with the ice

[@ghettomt]

True. Scott Moir could be a nhl all star. NHL players are not genetic freaks like in the NFL

[@julespattyn5565]

Matthews is my favourite hockey player

[@landonbates5974]

matthews is a beast

[@archvile1313]

That's similar to the physical test they do before each season start.

[@jraybay]

What do the long jumps and force plates have to do with hockey? Serious question.

[@jraybay]

Brian Voss True. Thanks very much 👍

[@bradmizener5064]

Very Little actually. Most of these tests are irrelevant. They are just a baseline. You cannot compare hockey to any other sport just to the fact that there is very little vertical force when moving unlike when a person runs or jumps in football or basketball. The force when skating is horizontal. The long jump does require horizontal force to move forward, but that is about it. That is why most hockey players have big asses, because of the hip extension while skating.

[@MadMadz150]

@@SatouKazuma5 Calves? nah

[@ffryan]

It generally assesses explosive power and ability relative to your body weight. It has its place in NFL combine testing but I'm not convinced it has a place in NHL combine testing.

[@breakaway2x]

The good ol days.

[@domenicmorin4545]

You guys still think he's a bust huh??

[@Ynotnow9900]

it was actually a pitiful showing, but these things don't translate to play on the ice

[@ovechkin8gr828]

+stinkin lincoln how was it pitiful ?

[@Ynotnow9900]

Ovechkin8gr8 statistically speaking against other players competing in the same feats. He was much better than your mother would be

[@ovechkin8gr828]

+stinkin lincoln good one man! You should give creative writing a shot, you have some serious potential

[@Ynotnow9900]

Ovechkin8gr8 a dumbshit answer for a dumbshit question

[@rafeperrin5767]

Im 3 and i can bench 1000 pounds just as many times as he did 175

[@willseibel1225]

That’s at canissius college I played there

[@kethlath7833]

Beautiful.

[@imahanimal]

Tf I never knew they had this in the NHL

[@MJXtube]

1:26 Easy there, tiger.

[@daveellis5100]

Recorded horizontally:)

[@theCODking97]

not much to show off... for a guy his height and weight I was expecting him to be alot more powerful.

[@keiths1283]

I'm sure you're in just as good of shape as these world class athletes making the NHL. It'd be interesting to see joe shmo do it along side a professional athlete for comparison.

[@theCODking97]

Keith S obviously he's 10x the player I'll ever be but this isn't world class athlete shape lol...World class athletes are NBA, NFL and track athletes where the worst performers in that sport would most likely beat the best performers in this. I'm not saying hockey players aren't incredible athletes but Matthews definitely won't be the first one popping in to my mind when the word athlete is tossed around

[@keiths1283]

Chase Tyrrell Agree. He's done nothing. How did he even make the top hockey league on the planet? I bet he doesn't even go to the gym between games. I'd say when it comes to any of the 1500+ under contract players, none of them are what you'd call "athletes" compared to the average basketball player or 300lbs O-lineman.

[@pamandeepsidhu8360]

Chase Tyrrell thats bcuz hockey players dont need to be freaks athletically. no ones really ripped in the NHL but theyre no slouches at all either. basketball players bodies seem like theyre for show anyways rsther than use

[@hruppenicker3]

Chase Tyrrell he is also what only 17 years old? People don't all develop super quickly.

[@kingofgames93]

the guy yelling sounded like Vegeta lol

[@camerondurham3923]

Gotta see it: Auston Matthews breaths like a normal person

[@muscles662988]

Haha does that dude really need to yell like that!?

[@VortechBand]

It's proven that having someone yell and hype you like that makes you perform better (more adrenaline is released).

[@dinethaltmann9582]

Can confirm^ personally, did ~32 pushups with no one yelling and 49 with my coach yelling at me. It's weird cause you work harder out of spite

[@iraderr6131]

Dineth Altmann yeah

[@Shadowfynx]

Helps get your mind off the grind.

[@Jordan91alexander]

I can tell youve never worked out a day in your life, Witch probably means you've never watched hockey witch in terms means you must be an expert. Next time i go for max reps i will be sure to stare at the black hole in the sky

[@kristofereriksson5122]

Does anyone know where I can get a haircut just like the guy at 1:50? And where can you get a tribal tattoo and some cool oakley shades?

[@threethrushes]

Do you even hipster brah?

[@justinperry5355]

175 for 7 reps... beast mode

[@gamingNFTs]

might want to check the math on that bro. that's 130 bro not 175. 45+10+10 X2. still not bad at all.

[@aberuel8823]

@@gamingNFTs forget about the bar?

[@justbleedprod.9414]

@@gamingNFTs the bar is 45 lbs everyone knows that cmon

[@bfdia51]

​@@gamingNFTs yeah because a standard 45lb Olympic bar weighs nothing

[@joeq.public281]

​@@gamingNFTsdo you even lift? The bar is 45 lbs, my guy. If you ever try working out, you will know this.

[@sooner70]

the dead lift and squat should be in the nhl combine.

[@daletherson5996]

Hockey players aren't real athletes..dout if they would be able to deadlift would slipping a disk...

[@jamescaliendo1030]

@@daletherson5996 you obviously know nothing about our sport

[@aquaman199]

I think that bike exercise is the hardest part of there tests.the rest are easy

[@bejahicanuckguitar9702]

Hockey Joe They're easy to do, but it takes training to get the results these guys get

[@colewarren8632]

Matthews has definitely lived up to the hype! Leafs future captain for sure! Leafs all the way!

[@CityZxens]

Yeah um nope

[@billiscool7647]

@@CityZxens What do you mean nope? He’s been the best first overall pick in the last decade (besides McDavid of course)

[@jeremy9717]

@@billiscool7647 last decade first overall picks have sucked so if ur not the best then that’s all. Matthews is just as lazy as he was in his rookie season, forechecking hard then gliding on the back check. Is extremely hot at goal scoring then extremely cold..

[@blazingwaffle0145]

He's is not a bust there been worse picks than him he still did better then many other players

[@MontyQueues]

there was a player i forgot his name sam bennett or w/e for buffalo or calgary and couldn't do a chin up

[@zclinklaterlinklater4933]

Casey middlestat idk how to spell his last name

[@braydenritchie3260]

guys come on, lets be real. I haven't been impressed by a hockey player's bench press since....idk forever? Spend 10 minutes in a gym and you'll see at least 5 people bench way more weight pound for pound than the top guy at the combine.

[@braydenritchie3260]

Granted, lower body strength is a whole other beast, and idc if he was only 17, you'll still see stronger 16-19 yr olds at your local gym any day of the week.

[@damojan]

Yeah, because hockey players 'should' be focusing on pounding the weights, instead of honing their on ice skills. After all, it's strength, not skill that gets you to the NHL?

[@braydenritchie3260]

Yeah because it's super hard to spend an hour in the gym every day when you don't have a job..... (sarcasm)

[@sixshooter82]

Brayden most of these kids look like walking spaghettis but check out Bruins training camp and players like Roman polak, Evander Kane etc. those guys are in insane condition. They don’t look like Lindros and Stevens anymore.

[@justind3583]

Brayden Ritchie i wonder how much Ryan Reeves lifts.

[@ryanchan4359]

Funny how most of these comments are about how he can't lift 175 lbs. Which tells me they most people know nothing about elite athletes. LOL. The training that goes elite sports has more to do with muscle memory, speed and agility. Speed and skills separates the pros from the rest. Boxers have a similar training regime where their body is born from activity in the sport - more natural bodies are faster.

[@thechellord9571]

I forgot, is this bingo at the seniors home? Look at all those granny arms.

[@olney28]

This is a depressing display of athleticism. Good thing hockey is skill based.

[@Sens23Bruins]

175lbs on the bench, dyel kid?

[@marcwagnolio6536]

Bench press in hockey is not like it is in football. Also the weight is set by the NHL, not by the player.

[@hellomoto3686]

The bench press in the combine is with the equivalent of 70% to 80% of the body weight. I personnally lift 135 if i include the bar, and i weigh in at 176, which means i would lift 76% of my mass, but i could lift less and it would turn at my advantage in combine circumstances. Matthews weighs in at 215 according to the elite prospects site, which means he lifts around 80% of his body mass, which is quite great IMO

[@anon8633]

hey although that guy is clearly in the wrong part of youtube, the point stands that he doesnt look that great. I am very familiar with the combine as my buddy went through it not too long ago. Matthews has talent thats for sure but this is a weak showing for someone at his tier.

[@anon8633]

no honestly 135 at 176 pounds is weak. NO HATE I SWEAR IVE BEEN THERE. It's just at his level he should be much stronger than that. I bench 245 at 155 pounds and i also dont look like a muscle hamster. Its possible for matthews to be much stronger by now as im sure his genetics are way better than mine. Does he need to bench 245? no but the strength of the dudes in the nhl suggests he should be stronger.

[@saucenflow]

the picture with the username hahahaha goofy troll lollolll'

[@saine414]

Damn! His bench was so weak for a man of his size

[@saskk2290]

How so?

[@vanhanliiton7232]

Hes 17yo l0l

[@apexlegendz1905]

matthews isnt gonna need to jump any time so so its ok

[@natediaz8607]

Sounds like Vince McMahon lol

[@paulshelton4920]

I waited for the “show off part” never came

[@wayup8122]

That vertical is pitiful lol

[@starllama2149]

Well, it's a good thing he's nt playing basketball and hockey instead

[@seamusbelisle5425]

its not a vertical you idiot. Force plate

[@theCODking97]

the force plate measures vertical power generated lol

[@dannypike3189]

Chase Tyrrell Which is related to weight. He'll have a lower vertical than a lighter guy, even though he generated more force.

[@ironfreak2169]

Gotta see what? That bench and vertical were weak as hell 😂

[@billiscool7647]

Would love to see you play in the NHL.

[@ericimi]

does he even lift.

[@matta8569]

lol everyone's pretty rough on him.. I could only do a few reps at 175 when I was 18, but ya I get it, not what you'd expect from an 'elite' athlete

[@LillianGardner0214]

Jumping? Is this basketball?

[@ThisIsTomKelly]

Kid struggling with 175 on bench?!?!

[@thomaswiseman9615]

lol I'm 15 and can do 250 pounds as many times as he did 175

[@johnyk.3921]

Nah you can't, 113 kgs as a 15 years old? Lel.

[@b.o.4469]

I'm sure that will get you very far in life kid xD

[@lo-fi8558]

They are nhl players, they aren’t designed to lift like power lifters, you have to understand that.

[@petroniaskho]

Can you skate at 20mph, stop on a dime and turn around while stickhandling a puck and not lose it while avoiding 2 others coming at you while you shoot the puck into the upper right corner behind a 6'2" goalie -- 50 times a year? Didn't think so.

[@vanhanliiton7232]

You would be carried out from hockey game on strecher

[@JmanMovies13]

Maybe if he cut his hair he could run faster.

[@skewz]

The NFL combine makes this look like a joke.

[@crazyerko]

FaceValue Sure, but hockey is more of a game than an athletic competition compared to football

[@liltuna4107]

The guys at the NFL combine are like 4-5 years older than the guys at the NHL combine

[@syedfa]

Looks like 64 Patrick Laine fans watched this video.

[@sebastianannab8159]

Bench game is weak

[@360redskins]

I feel like I just watched a miniature football combine. Half of these drills are irrelevant in ice hockey.

[@bladeshockey21]

Zach Eisenhour quads, upper body, agility. How?

[@Shadowfynx]

Zach Eisenhour it's a general test of fitness.

[@DiamondScuff]

oh yes. im glad u guys can bench 175. but can u bench his 1 year contracts over a few mills? No? shut up broke boys lmao.

[@devincamaron8702]

"Shows off his fitness" Benches 175lbs 7 times. Lmao.

[@saskk2290]

Tuff

[@tristantoledo6866]

To this day I don’t understand how unathletic most NHL players are. This is supposed to be impressive? He only got up 7 reps of 175lbs.

[@atrholiday2889]

Bench Press is your sole measure of athleticism?

[@poejavelski148]

You do realize not everyone is a powerlifter right? 175 for 7 reps at like 17/18 years old when you mostly focus on hockey and cardio is pretty damn good.

[@uhohDavinci]

lol.. these guys are what 17/18 years old.. in a sport focused on leg strength/power, cardio and core strength. he's still blow you out of the water.

[@TokyoBalletReprise]

@@uhohDavinci Why aren’t hockey players able to run fast or jump high if they have have so much “leg strength”?

[@petroniaskho]

Hockey players don't typically have upper body strength. It's not a huge part of the skills needed for the game. Legs, core, agility, and stamina are more important. Big upper bodies would slow down your skating and affect your balance and quickness. This isn't football.

[@BobbySpicklestein]

i bbench more than this kid and i smoke weed every day. if this is what the fitness level of "pro athletes" is nowadays i should consider picking up hockey...

[@rafeperrin5767]

lol ok go for it

[@6idangle]

Hockey is one of the hardest sports bud but strength isn't the measure, there is a certain unteachable talent that comes with the game and being skilled etc.

[@skylarblu1]

bust.

[@jemo9389]

oh canuck fans...

[@imbrysor8654]

Don't you have something better to do, like burn down your city?

[@skylarblu1]

hahahah.... didn't know we went back 5 years where a tiny part of a city had a riot

[@idriskalair9533]

are you talking about virtanen? Or al of the other players the canucks drafted over the past 5 years?

[@skylarblu1]

I'm talking about Matthews bud and you hating on Virtanen after 1 NHL season lol that's all you guys got Virtanen and a riot years ago

[@hammerhead2362]

the difference between the athletes in professional american football and hockey is ridiculous....same drills look at the numbers....different sport tho...just shows tho that americas best athletes arent playing hockey

[@fe4rxdemon47]

Lets see an endurance test now

[@alchemilk]

It just shows that hockey actually requires you be good at the sport and not fat and big

[@hammerhead2362]

@@alchemilk yes because NFL outside linebackers, pass rushers, cornerbacks, safeties, running backs, tight ends , and receivers are “fat and big” 😂

[@twofer8135]

this is the worst display of athletics ive ever seen in my life. how is this even a thing

[@alchemilk]

Because they’re not lifting weights for a living

[@XxCurlyManxX]

Biggest bust since Mcdavid

[@Sens23Bruins]

175lbs on the bench, dyel kid?

[@Ynotnow9900]

a solid 8 reps, haha