Guhle garners attention at gruelling draft combine

Prince Albert Raiders defenseman Brendan Guhle is among the most fit prospects for the NHL draft. The Edmonton area product had seven top ten finishes at the NHL draft combine. The annual event brings together 100 of the top draft eligable prospects for a week of interviews with NHL general managers and scouts in addition to a day of tough physical tests. 

The 18-year-old rated 56th on NHLCentral Scouting’s list of North American skaters, led all prospects with a peak power output score of 19.9 on the Wingate bike test, which measures a player’s explosive leg power. The 6-foot-2 184-pound left-shot defender also had the best long jump at 122 inches, and the fourth-highest vertical leap at 27 inches.

He tied for third-most pull-ups with 12; tied for the fifth-fastest in the pro-agility test starting right at 4.39 seconds; the seventh-fasted in the pro agility starting left at 4.47 seconds; and tied for the seventh-most repetitions on the bench press with 15.

Guhle who impressed scouts all season with his tremendous speed and overall skating ability is also rated 99th overall on Craig’s list, compiled by TSN commentator and former NHL GM Craig Button and rated 70th overall by TSN’s Bob McKenzie. The draft is June 26th and 27th in Florida.