Feats of strength and endurance were front and centre on Friday as the top prospects for the NHL Draft were put through a series of gruelling fitness tests at the NHL Scouting Combine. Many of the top draft-eligible players from North America and Europe were put through intense physical, medical and psychological testing in final preparation for the NHL Draft. The fitness portion of the combine includes the notoriously tough bike tests - the Wingate Cycle Ergometer and the VO2 Max test. The VO2 test measures a players aerobic capacity, specifically the maximum capacity of an individuals body to transport and use oxygen during incremental exercise. Top prospect Nail Yakupov of the Sarnia Sting seemed unfazed by the physical toll of the bike testing. "I think my favourite was the two bikes, it was easy for me," said Yakupov. "I was practicing before and for me it was easy." Two of the most coveted defencemen in the draft, Mathew Dumba of the Red Deer Rebels and Griffin Reinhart of the Edmonton Oil Kings, found it tough but enjoyed the challenge. "Thats a killer, you come right off the Wingate and guys are throwing up in the back and your legs are just shot and youve got another one to go," said Dumba. "Its pretty hard to bear down and it really challenges you." "I think the bike is the most tiring for sure. Its the longest 30 seconds I think Ill ever experience in my life," added Reinhart. "Then you have to go over and do the VO2 and the last three of four minutes of that it feels like youre doing the Wingate all over again." Other tests the players took part in include the standing long jump, vertical jump, curl-ups, grip strength, bench press, push-ups, and push/pull strength. The prospects were also interviewed by NHL teams during the NHL Combine in an attempt to get a better read on their future. Goaltender Malcolm Subban of the Belleville Bulls was asked if his approach to the combine is any different due to his position. "I dont think it really changes anything," said Subban, whose brother P.K. plays for the Montreal Canadiens. "Regardless of your position, youre just trying to give it your all and be honest in the interviews. Hopefully you impress a few people and everything works out in the draft." While 25 teams interviewed Ottawa 67s defenceman Cody Ceci, the highly-touted blue liner tried to get a read on what teams were thinking about him during the process. "Talking to all the teams and trying to figure out what team has the most interest and where Im going to go is all exciting stuff," said Ceci, who could be drafted in the first half of the first round. One top prospect who did not participate in the physical testing was Mikhail Grigorenko, who has not yet been cleared for training after suffering a case of mononucleosis late in the season. "Im looking at the guys, so its really hard to do it, but Id like to do everything just to show people that I am not weak," said Grigorenko. "If teams want me to train with them, I will do it." Make no mistake, every player wants to be drafted first overall, but Nail Yakupov is more focused on what happens after the NHL Draft, including doing everything he can to make the team. "I want to be drafted by NHL and try to play hard and work with my team and try to win every game and then well see what happens. I want to make the NHL and then well see," said Yakupov. "Its the best league in the world. You have to work harder. I just want to work and do everything I can for the NHL because its my dream." Ryan Murray of the Everett Silvertips, who is a consensus Top 3 pick, admitted he would love to hear his name called first among the numerous top-rated defencemen. "I think everyone wants to be the first one," said Murray. "I think everyone is competitve for that first pick and to be the first [defenceman] to go." The competitive nature of Mathew Dumba came through when he was asked how he stacks up against the talent in this years draft. "I think when you compare all the skills and whatnot, the thing that separates me is my work ethic, my willingness to compete and win every battle," said Dumba, who has been tabbed to go in the Top 10. "I hate to lose and I bring that every day and I want to get better every day so I can get to that next level." The Edmonton Oilers hold the first pick in the draft for the third consecutive year and have already scheduled a follow-up interview with Yakupov in Edmonton on Sunday. Canadian teams actually have three of the top five picks, with the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs drafting No. 3 and No. 5 overall. TSN will have live coverage of the NHL Draft from the CONSOL Energy Centre in Pittsburgh on Friday, June 22 at 7pm et/4pm pt. . -- Nicolas Deschamps had a goal and two assists and Marcel Mueller added three assists as the Toronto Marlies defeated the Grand Rapids Griffins 4-2 in American League Hockey action Friday. [url=http://www.officialmlbonline.net/Black-Friday-Arizona-Diamondbacks-Cyber-Mo... Diamondbacks Jersey . LOUIS -- Up eight runs after three innings, Clayton Kershaw went right after the hitters. . Coming off just their third victory of the month, the Marlins and red-hot ace Anibal Sanchez try to take the rubber match of tonights three-game series at Safeco Field. With the popular rock band U2 taking over Sun Life Stadium back in Florida, the Marlins are playing as the home team in Seattles Safeco Field. [url=http://www.officialmlbonline.net/New-York-Mets-Cyber-Monday-Daniel-Murphy-J... Murphy Mets Jersey . The Blue Jays (70-89) will need a sweep of the Twins (66-93) to stave off 90 losses for the first time since 2004, when Toronto went 67-94. Aaron Laffey will get the ball for Toronto.The Green Bay Packers loss at Kansas City might be an early Christmas present for head coach Mike McCarthy and his team. I think more than anything, it now allows the Packers to re-focus their energies on simply winning the Super Bowl. I believe the Packers actually now have less pressure on them. Consider how much pressure they were already under, trying to chase the perfect season. The 19-14 loss on Sunday serves as a wake-up call to a team that may have believed they were unbeatable. Certainly, the Packers now understand that they are not good enough to simply show up each and every Sunday and win. The Packers still need to bring their A game if they are to hoist the Lombardi Trophy for the second straight season. Dont think for a moment that the loss on Sunday is being simply viewed as a glitch by Mike McCarthy. The Packers are all of a sudden experiencing some serious problems, as the injury bug has bitten Green Bay at the wrong time of the season. WR Greg Jennings is already out nursing a sprained knee, and starting right tackle Brian Bulaga and backup lineman Derrick Sherrod suffered respective injuries vs. KC. As a result, the Packers vaunted offence looked like a shadow of itself. Green Bay struggled with pass protection, receivers couldnt get open, and because of it, QB Aaron Rodgers completed less than 50% of his passes! Were talking about the front runner for the MVP award this season! With just two weeks left in the regular season, it is now imperative that the Packers find a way to deal with their injuries and get back to playing their best football. The Packers will be the first to tell you how important it is to be peaking at this point of the season, and it will be interesting to see how Green Bay is able to rebound from this loss. In The Zone Drew Brees looks like hes in the zone. In a season where legendary QB records are set to fall by the wayside, Drew Brees has looked every bit as deserving for the league MVP award as Aaron Rodgers. On Sunday, Brees carved through the Minnesota Vikings with the precision of a surgeon. In fact, he became the first player in NFL history to throw for at least 400 yards and five TDs, while completing at least 80% of his passes and not throwing an INT. Thats a pretty good day at the office. Brees said after the game that hes never felt as comfortable in Sean Paytons offence as he feels right now. Well, that comfort demonstrates itself each and every Sunday. Brees has already set another NFL record with 11 games of at least 300 passing yards. Having played for Sean Payton, I can tell you that Brees success this year has been absolutely remarkable to watch. Paytons offence is very complicated. Payton is a Jon Gruden disciple, and therefore his system is very wordy and multiple. Paytons modified West Coast attack demands that the QB understand multiple shifts, motions, formations and personnel packages. Payton will only allow his QB as much control in his system, that he proves he can handle, and Brees has proven he can handle it all. Brees reads.coverages as quickly as anyone in the NFL and I continue to marvel at how quickly he plays the game. Brees gets set up quickly, makes decisions quickly and gets rid of the football fast. His accuracy is off the charts. Brees is playing so well that I believe the Saints could once again travel into Lambeau Field in January, and in nasty conditions, throw the football 40+ times and beat Green Bay. What an NFC title game that would be. Who knows, the MVP winner may be wearing the gold and black helmet if and when they meet. Wouldnt be a surprise to me. Cause for Concern Buffalo Bills fans are probably feeling very concerned right now. After beginning the year with a surprising 4-1 record, the Bills have been brrought back to reality, losing seven in a row, and will miss the playoffs for the 12th straight season.dddddddddddd. Not much has gone right over the past eight weeks on the field, and there may be a giant problem developing off the field as well. After the surprising start, the Buffalo Bills front office was quick to award QB Ryan Fitzpatrick with a 6-year, $59 million deal (with $24 million guaranteed), making the former Harvard standout the franchise QB of the team for years to come. Many wondered whether or not it was premature to award a journeyman QB with such a long-term commitment only six games into the season. The fears are becoming reality. Over the seven-game losing skid, Fitzpatrick has looked nothing like what he did earlier this year. Instead of his efficient play and ability to manage games, Fitzpatrick has been turnover prone, throwing 12 INTS during the seven-game losing streak, and has not looked in rhythm. I believe Fitzpatrick is at times pressing, trying to do too much rather than just operate within his system. Part of him trying to do too much is a result of attempting to snap the losing skid, but I also believe he feels tremendous pressure to justify his lucrative contract. That is something that he simply cannot afford to do. On Sunday, I was watching legendary Bills QB Jim Kelly consoling Fitzpatrick on the sidelines during their loss to division rival Miami, and I wondered what was going through his head. Hes been given a lot of money, and is going to be compared to Kelly on each and every passing attempt he makes. The front office expects him to outduel the likes of Tom Brady twice a year, in search of the coveted AFC East title. That is a lot of pressure! But to whom much is given, much is expected, and the Bills front office, as well as their fan base, expect a lot. The deal is done, and like it or not, they are stuck with Fitzpatrick for at least the next couple of years. Fitzpatrick will want another opportunity to prove himself, and it appears that next season cant come soon enough for everybody in Buffalo, again. Roar Restored Ive been so impressed with the Detroit Lions this season. I remember at the start of the year when they were 5-0, everyone believed they were the new darling in the NFL. Then came a 2-5 stretch that brought the Lions and NFL fans back down to reality. But the Lions have clawed their way back, and have won their last two games in dramatic fashion, and as a result, are in position to make the playoffs for the first time since 1999. I give a lot of the credit to QB Matthew Stafford because he has been the rock for this team all season long. Stafford has demonstrated outstanding leadership, and I harken back to the off-season when he was organizing workouts in the midst of the lockout. He went out of his way to further develop his chemistry with Calvin Johnson and the rest of his WRs, and that chemistry has demonstrated itself on a weekly basis. In fact, Stafford to Johnson has become one of the NFLs premier QB-WR tandems. While this team was fighting various injuries early this season, Stafford was able to stay on the field and off the injury lists for the first time in his career, and as a result, the Lions are currently 4th in the NFL in scoring, averaging 28 points per game, and 5th in passing offense, with 283 passing yards/game. Finally, for the first time since Barry Sanders, the Detroit Lions have an identity. Matthew Stafford has become the face of the franchise, and with over 4000 yards passing, he has quickly become one of the games elite signal callers. Two games remain on the regular season schedule against San Diego and Green Bay. Its a tall task, but Stafford is on the cusp of leading his team somewhere where they havent been in 12 years. cheap jerseys cheap nfl jerseys ' ' '