With the 32nd overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks have selected defenseman Nolan Allan.
Allan is a 6-foot-2, 194-pound defenseman from the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL. Allan was ranked #83 overall by ESPN entering the draft, so the pick feels like a bit of a reach. He is a left-handed defenseman.
During the 2021 season, Allan registered one goal and one assist in 16 games for the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL. In 2019-20, Allan registered eight points (two goals, six assists) in 58 games with the Raiders. Here are Allan’s stats to date:
Here’s what Elite Prospects had to say about Nolan Allan in their 2021 NHL Draft scouting report:
Allan’s value comes from skating and defense. He’s already an NHL-calibre skater with projectable posture (knees over toes, hip flexion, chest up), lateral and backwards quickness, and separation through punch turns exited with crossovers. From that base, Allan defends the rush with NHL-ready fundamentals and a suffocating mentality.
– Elite Prospects
The Blackhawks opted to reach on a player, but are looking for a shutdown defenseman with this pick. Ever since the departure of Niklas Hjalmarsson, the Blackhawks have struggled to find an elite shutdown defensive defenseman. Per Elite Prospects, it seems like Allan fits the mold that the Blackhawks are searching for. Selecting Allan could mean finding the elite shutdown defenseman the Blackhawks have lacked for years, despite reaching based on the draft rankings.
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