NHL Scouting Combine: O’Brien paces New England prospects

Six 2018 NHL Draft prospects from New England participated in this past week’s NHL Scouting Combine at the HarborCenter in Buffalo, N.Y.

Quincy, Mass., resident Oliver Wahlstrom, a right wing from USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, is projected to be the first New England resident off the board. Committed to Boston College, Wahlstrom should be selected within the top 10 picks.

Jay O’Brien, a Hingham, Mass., native committed to Providence, is expected to hear his name called towards the end of the first round or the beginning of the second round. The Thayer center averaged nearly three points per game in the prep school ranks.

The other four New England natives included Northeastern commit Jordan Harris (Haverhill, Mass./Kimball Union), Merrimack commit Michael Kesselring (New Hampton, N.H./New Hampton), Providence commit Michael Callahan (Franklin, Mass./Youngstown Phantoms), and Boston University recruit Jake Wise (North Andover, Mass./U.S. NTDP U-18).

NHL Central Scouting reveals the top 25 finishers in each fitness test. Listed below are the New England prospects who finished in the top 25 of the various tests at the 2018 NHL Scouting Combine.

Aerobic Fitness: Test Duration

25. Michael Callahan (14:30)

Aerobic Fitness: VO2max (ml/kg/min)

8. Jay O’Brien (58.0)

Agility & Balance: Pro Agility – Left time (sec)

13. Jake Wise (4.4)
14. Oliver Wahlstrom (4.4)
15. Jay O’Brien (4.5)
16. Michael Callahan (4.5)

Agility & Balance: Pro Agility – Right time (sec)

9. Jake Wise (4.4)
10. Oliver Wahlstrom (4.5)
11. Jay O’Brien (4.5)
12. Michael Callahan (4.5)

Agility & Balance: Pro Agility – Left Max speed (mph)

3. Jay O’Brien (13.1)
4. Oliver Wahlstrom (12.3)

Agility & Balance: Pro Agility – Right Max speed (mph)

7. Oliver Wahlstrom (12.6)
8. Michael Callahan (12.6)

Anaerobic Fitness: Max Effort #1 – Mean Power Output (watts/kg)

19. Oliver Wahlstrom

Anaerobic Fitness: Max Effort #1 – Peak Power Output (watts/kg)

14. Jay O’Brien (18.0)

Anaerobic Fitness: Fatigue Index

3. Jordan Harris (15.6)

Anthropometry: Wing Span (inches)

• None

Body Composition Juhasz % Body Fat

10. Jay O’Brien
11. Jordan Harris

Total FMS Score

• None

Force Plate: Vertical Jump (inches)

9. Jordan Harris (22.78)
10. Oliver Wahlstrom (21.95)
11. Jay O’Brien (21.44)

Force Plate: Squat Jump (inches)

21. Jay O’Brien (17.38)

Force Plate: No Arm Jump (inches)

14. Oliver Wahlstrom (18.65)
15. Jordan Harris (18.44)
16. Jay O’Brien (18.35)