The 2014 NHL Draft is tonight in Philadelphia and 18-year old Sam Bennett is expected to hear his name called during the top five selections. But Bennett – regarded as the top North American skater in this year’s draft class – has still been working hard to prove himself in the days leading up Friday’s draft.
Earlier this month, Bennett made national headlines when he failed to do a single pull-up at the NHL’s Draft Combine. Despite the ability he clearly showcased on the ice over the past handful of years, some people questioned if Bennett’s lack of strength would raise a warning flag for potential NHL suitors.
The poor showing at the combine also clearly bothered Bennett as well.
“There’s nothing I can really do about it, except for work hard in the gym and get better,” he said in a recent interview. “It was just bad timing. A bad time to get zero. I’d love to show people I can actually do them now.”
Well, he finally got his chance. TSN taped a special pre-draft segment this week in which James Duthie got to hang out with some of the top prospects around Philly, and that’s when Duthie gave Bennett the chance to redeem himself.
They went to a local playground, where Bennett ripped off a handful of pull-ups in front of the camera:
I’m sure it felt pretty good to get that monkey off his back, but I’m sure it’ll feel even better when he gets to walk the stage and realize his dream of getting drafted tonight.
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