Checking In With The Blackhawks 2021 Draft Class
We’re now 10 days from Christmas, so let’s revisit how the Blackhawks’ 2021 NHL Draft class are performing in their various leagues.
Nolan Allan, D
1st Round (#32)
Prince Albert (WHL) — 23 Gm, 2 G, 12 A, 14 Pts, 16 PIM
Allan signed his three-year, entry level contract with the Blackhawks in September.
Colton Dach, F
2nd Round (#62)
Kelowna (WHL) — 23 Gm, 11 G, 10 A, 21 Pts, 25 PIM
Kirby’s younger brother signed his three-year, entry level contract with the Blackhawks in October.
Taige Harding, D
3rd Round (#91)
Fort McMurray (AJHL) — 34 Gm, 12 G, 20 A, 32 Pts, 46 PIM
Harding was named the AJHL Defensive Player of the Week twice in November.
Ethan Del Mastro, D
4th Round (#105)
Mississauga (OHL) — 24 Gm, 4 G, 10 A, 14 Pts, 34 PIM
Del Mastro is +22 with two game-winning goals in his first 24 games this season.
Victor Stjernborg, C
4th Round (#108)
Vaxjo (SHL) — 8 Gm, 1 A, 1 Pt, 4 PIM
Sterjnborg had surgery on a lower-body injury in October that will prevent him from playing for Sweden at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Ilya Safonov, C
6th Round (#172)
Kazan (KHL) — 34 Gm, 3 G, 3 A, 6 Pts, 20 PIM
Connor Kelley, D
7th Round (#204)
Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA) — 15 Gm, 6 A, 6 Pts, 6 PIM
Kelley was one of the final cuts from the WJC roster by USA Hockey.
Jalen Luypen, F
7th Round (#216)
Edmonton (WHL) — 27 Gm, 10 G, 19 A, 29 Pts, 35 PIM
It would be nice if one of the top two guys can make the team next year. We need scoring, and DachJr has some scoring ability. I would like to add that I am extremely disappointed in Kirby Dach and his play this year. Am I wrong for thinking that in his 3rd year that Dach should dominate the league the way that McDavid and Matthews have done? With his size, vision, hockey acumen, and playing with Kane and DeBrincat, I thought he would be one of the best centermen in the league. Instead, he is the 3rd best center on this team, maybe even 4th. WTF!!
Allan is having a really good season and getting a lot off time on PP and he will continue to improve and will gain confidence playing more minutes.Allan and Crevier from the draft before are looking really good so far this year .Patrick Roy is sending Crevier on the ice 19-20 minutes/game with the Remparts.
Tommy Ivan
Yess you are wrong .
Please Compare him with Kakko and Lafreniere to understand.
Both those Guy are same age and where draft number 1 and 2
When you say third year ….come on …he played 18 games last year .and he was far from being 100% from is broken wrist.
Be patient with the kid .
@Hawk2010 – thank you for putting that into perspective. Maybe, I just want him to do more. I am an impatient Fk! Carry on!
Allan playing very well as no. 1 Dman for his team since Guhle was traded. Lots of potential here, watch them and see what return is in coming years.
Tommy there was never any hype for Dach being a generational type pick like Mcdavid or Matthews or Lafreniere. His first 3 years were in midst of uncertainity in covid shortened seasons, injuries caused him to miss his first 2 training camps and most of last season. So those years were anything but normal and obviously so has his drvelopment opportunity so far. With a little more time and patience he should be fine, only 20 yrs old with a little over 100 Nhl games.
Only thing Dach has going for him is excuses, if he was playing on the 3rd line with subpar linemates, you all would say he is not playing with good players….right ? He plays with Kane and Dcat, if you can’t put up points with those 2…..what does that say ?? He is a big kid that plays as weak as Nylander, he is afraid to shoot and sucks at the faceoff dot. Offer him a bridge deal at 2 mil for 3 more years because he is not worth anything more than that. And my guess is his brother will put up more points and he was 2nd end and not 3rd overall……and remember when he was picked at 3rd overall, he WAS considered to be a franchise player and future #1 center…..so let’s not forget what was said about him at the draft and keep making excuses for him. And stop comparing him to LaFranier…..Dach is Dach and was picked #3 overall
When I saw Allan in pre-season I was impressed with his defensive IQ – he seems to be adding some offense to his game – maybe there’ll be a good NHler there after all
Hawks2010: I would also add in addition to what you said: Look who was coaching him. I still say in a another year or two he will be a dominant player.
Lafrenière was number 1 pick and has 2 goals 10 pts minus 4 ,38 shots on goal in 28 games
Dach was number 3 pick and has 4 goals 10 pts ,minus 2 ,45 shots on goal in 27 games
Lafrenière is a top notch player consider to be a kind off McDavid who also needs time because he is also a kid .
When they say Dach a future #1 Center doesn’t mean at 20 years old .
I compare 20 years old kids like Kakko number2 pick 3 goals 8 pts so far this year .
Nobody said Dach would become a player like McDavid .
It’s like comparing Ferrari to a Mustang . Both are fast car but……
Just my 2 pesos
I too am concerned about Dach, mostly in terms of how he skates and opens his self up for contact. But we need to be patient, and see how he progresses in the next two years. He could be a star or a vital bottom six piece-we don’t know. It was at the end of year two that three or four on this site we’re willing to give up on the Cat or trade him for a 6th rounder and a roll of tape.
The lack of patience for 20 year old players is very interesting. When I was 20 I was lost and confused.
We seem to live in a world where we want to be first one to proclaim the worst.
Beer League- I agree… with regards to points playing w/ 12/88. I would think that if I skated 25 games with 12/88… the puck would bounce off of me by chance and I would have 6-8 pts -with Zero skill or intention.
Dach- is young and still has lots of time to mature… that’s still true
But at this point- He Over handles the puck ( especially when u play w/ 88)- and he does leave himself open to the big hit stick handling thru 2 defenders… into a 3rd.
I just read where the Ontario provincial gov’t is forcing teams to cut back on attendance to 50% and not to travel outside of Canada. This is going to hurt the NHL.
Speaking of attendance, I will be attending the Icehogs vs. Stars in Austin, TX this weekend, and my scouting report will follow.
The last time I saw the Icehogs play, I was impressed with a kid named Hagel, who I called a faster and more skilled version of Andrew Shaw. Also, I was quite impressed with a Silver Bullet named Phillip Kurashev, who I said reminded me a bit of Martin St. Louis. I was also impressed with A. Fortin and his ability to get behind the defense. I was not at all impressed with Nicholas Beaudin, who I said looked like a 12 year old. Chad Krys did impress me, and someone in the Toronto organization agrees with me as they just traded for him.
This time, I will be keeping an eye out on Reichel, Nylander, Barratt, Phillips, Regula, Mitchell, Hardman, and Kalynuk.