NHL Players Summer Workout Routines

As the summer begins to slowly wind down and training camps continue to near, it's interesting to see how players around the league have been staying in shape. Some have hired personal trainers while others chose to work out with their friends and teammates. With various roles and positions to fill, players have been focusing their attention all summer (for Islanders' players: since last November) on the specific set of skills they are hoping to develop and improve. Here's some insight into what your favorite players/teams have been working on this summer...

Evgeni Malkin
Malkin has reportedly spent his entire summer thus far in Russia, continuing to recover from a nagging knee injury that ended his 2010-2011 prematurely. His workout consists of repeatedly juggling a ball over a hurdle while the Penguins strength coach, Mike Kadar, sits there laughing at the fact that the Penguins are paying him to essentially... do nothing.

Martin St. Louis
Upon seeing the video from Malkin's "training sessions", Tampa Bay Lightning forward Martin St. Louis released footage of his own workout techniques... Tough to tell who has been working harder in the offseason, Malkin or St. Louis...



Pittsburgh Penguins
state-of-the-art training center

 Pittsburgh Penguins
While Malkin was over in Russia doing his own thing this summer, the Penguins organization purchased a brand-new, multi-million dollar training facility. Penguins owner Mario Lemieux reported that he specifically installed an additional training apparatus 10 meters above the state-of-the-art training surface for star-forward Sidney Crosby.

Nashville Predators

Learned how to play defense against the toe-drag.

- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzdCWAgxams 

(Note the commentating: "almost always the way it goes when you play against a well-schooled defensive team like nashville")

- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hwLhWZmRWk

John Carlson

Learned how to play defense.

- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDJjPZS6HxM

Matt Cooke
Practiced his turtling techniques for anytime Evander Kane is on the ice.

Alexander Ovechkin
Strictly followed the Kyle Wellwood diet.

Paul Bissonnette
Focused on strengthening his fingers for his twitter updates while watching the regular season from the Phoenix press box (not hating on the guy, I'd love to make $600,000 a year to watch hockey).

Alexander Semin
Improved his bongo playing skills.

Keith Ballard
Sharpened the defensive subtleties in his game. Tasks included: improving his forward-skating ability for when opposing forwards breeze past him, and learning to forgive your goaltender for allowing a goal.