Top prospect Patrik Laine will be limiting his physical testing at Saturday’s NHL Draft Combine after experiencing some discomfort in his left knee during Friday’s VO2 max bike test.
“I won’t be doing anything that involves the legs [during testing on Saturday],” Laine told NHL.com. “I think I will only do upper body.”
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“I couldn’t finish [the tests] because I had some problem with my leg, but I think it went pretty normal otherwise,” Laine said, indicating that the discomfort began when the bike’s resistance was at its highest level, about eight minutes into the test. “I’m OK. I didn’t finish the test because I just don’t want to get hurt; I have an important summer and I don’t want to miss that.”
The projected No. 2 overall pick had surgery on his left knee in 2013. He confirmed to NHL.com that the pain he felt was in that same leg.
Laine, 18, suffered an injury during the World Championships in May when he was tripped by Team Canada’s Corey Perry. He left the game but did return, and played the rest of the tournament — even going on to receive tournament MVP honours while helping Finland to the silver medal.
