At the NHL Scouting Combine, prospects line up for a series of tests that go far beyond skating drills. Among the most telling measurements is the countermovement jump, performed on a force plate that records height, propulsive power and the symmetry of each leg's contribution.
The data gathered from those jumps have become a cornerstone of player development strategies, offering a window into how an athlete's lower‑body mechanics will translate to acceleration, speed and braking on the ice.
A New Metric for Coaches
Ken Whittier, strength coach for Boston University, explains that controlling ground interaction is the key to unlocking speed, strength and power. By analyzing the force profile of each player, he can design training that targets specific weaknesses.
Players such as Tanner Jeannot of the Boston Bruins and Alex Steeves, a prospect eyeing a professional contract, credit the jump work for giving them the confidence and explosiveness needed to dominate in games.
The approach is not limited to elite prospects. USHL teams and several college programs now incorporate force‑plate testing into their recruiting pipelines, using the numbers to predict how a prospect will adapt to the physical demands of higher competition.
Tailoring Workouts to Force Profiles
Whittier distinguishes between athletes who generate high concentric force but lag in eccentric control and those whose concentric output is limited. For the former, flywheel squats are prescribed to improve braking; for the latter, explosive step‑ups and weighted lunges are emphasized.
Ben Watson of Hawkin Dynamics, whose company supplies the testing equipment, notes that the jump test also serves as an early warning system. Asymmetries or a sudden drop in jump height can signal overcompensation that may precede ligament strain.
When a player returns from injury, the same plates verify readiness by confirming restored symmetry and comparable jump height, giving medical staff a quantitative green light for a full‑speed return.
Off‑season training camps have become the proving ground where these metrics are showcased, allowing players to demonstrate how targeted jump work translates into measurable gains on the ice.