Top prospect for the 2024 NHL Draft Cole Beaudoin showcased his power and how incredibly in shape he is at the NHL Combine in Buffalo last week.
For those who have never been next to Barrie Colts center, Cole Beaudoin, in person. We can give you a very brief description of how fit the 18-year-old is. He’s jacked.
There may not be another player eligible for the 2024 NHL Draft who is in better shape than him. The young forward frankly is in better shape than some current NHL players.
According to The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler, earlier this season when the Barrie Colts posted a video of him lifting in the gym, some NHL teams reached out to the organization to ask if the video was fake.
When speaking to the media at the NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo last week, Beaudoin said that he’s started to take his fitness, training, diet, and stretching more seriously for around five years now to become as fit as he is today.
Beaudoin stood out during the fitness testing at the combine. Shocker I know.
He finished in the top 25, among 95 prospects that tested, in 10 tests, including finishing first in the aerobic fitness test duration and the bench press. Also, his 13 pull-ups were tied for the third most.
He said the 30-second Wingate test on the bike was the most challenging — a common answer amongst the prospects — but also laughed saying the guy yelling in his ear actually fired him up.
Beaudoin said he and his trainer do a lot of one-on-one training, which he has viewed as very beneficial to his growth, “It allows me to tell him what I want to work on, whether that’s speed, strength, or my fitness,” said Beaudoin.
The Kanata, Ontario native is a powerful straight-line skater thanks to his lower-body strength, even though his mechanics aren’t as pristine compared to others. He said last summer he focused on lateral and hurdle exercises in his training to improve his speed and agility.
As per The Hockey News' 2024 NHL Draft Preview, NHL scouts recognize his skating will need to improve, but it’s not an issue, because he competes so hard and has shown offensive ability as well. He’s probably the best example of a prototypical power forward in the draft for the OHL.
Beaudoin is slotted to go later on Day 1 of the NHL draft in the first round or early into Day 2 in the second round. Regardless, of where he goes, he told us at the combine that he had interviewed with 30 teams, clearly showing that there’s a lot of interest in the 6-foot-2, 200-pound centerman.
Wherever he may land one thing is for sure, this young man is going to surprise NHL players with his strength and sculpting frame when he gets into the gym with them.