Top Blackhawks' Prospect: "The Next Niklas Hjalmarsson"
Photo credit: NHL
GM Kyle Davidson has been heading the Chicago Blackhawks draft table for the last two years, and his prospect pool has yielded Nolan Allan, an NHL-ready defenseman.
The Chicago Blackhawks have a deep prospect pool with defenseman Artyom Levshunov, Kevin Korchinski, and Alex Vlasic.
Yet, one Blackhawk who doesn't come up in conversations often enough is Nolan Allan. Allan was drafted 32nd overall in the 1st round of the 2021 NHL Draft.
This season he's played 27 games with the Blackhawks, scoring 6 points( 1 G, 5 A) after having a promising showing during the pre-season.
He scored his first NHL goal against the Seattle Kraken on December 19th and hasn't looked back since.
"I hit the post and I thought to myself, I'm never going to get that opportunity again." Said Nolan Allan on scoring his first NHL goal after hitting the goal post earlier in the game. "It was nice to get one today. Kind of weird how that works."
Allan's had the benefit of continuity in Rockford, and now Chicago as his development progresses under Anders Sorense.
The comparables early have been to beloved Blackhawks defenseman, Niklas Hjalmarsson.
Hawks fans may remember Nicklas Hjalmarsson who was a key part of the team winning the Stanley Cup three times in six years back in the day. He didn't score much at all but goals didn't go in Chicago's net when he was on the ice.
Allan is drawing a lot of comparisons to Hjalmarsson for that reason. Will he go on to have the success that the latter had? That remains to be seen but the ceiling is similar.
Allan spent 60 games in the AHL last season, scoring 17 points( 5 G, 12 A) and in that short development period it looks like it's already paid off.
Back in 2021 when he was drafted he was already considered NHL-ready. Allan has a strong two-way style of play, that can bring the pain and also start a breakout with efficiency.
It looks like the offensive-defenseman has figured the big league game out early, and needed less time in the oven than say Kevin Korchinski.
But no two players' development is ever the same.
Allan is drawing a lot of comparisons to Hjalmarsson for that reason. Will he go on to have the success that the latter had? That remains to be seen but the ceiling is similar.
Allan spent 60 games in the AHL last season, scoring 17 points( 5 G, 12 A) and in that short development period it looks like it's already paid off.
Back in 2021 when he was drafted he was already considered NHL-ready. Allan has a strong two-way style of play, that can bring the pain and also start a breakout with efficiency.
It looks like the offensive-defenseman has figured the big league game out early, and needed less time in the oven than say Kevin Korchinski.
But no two players' development is ever the same.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 22 | 119 ANSWERS Top Blackhawks' Prospect: "The Next Niklas Hjalmarsson" Do you think defenseman Nolan Allan can turn into the next "Hammer" for the Chicago Blackhawks? | ||
| Yes | 88 | 73.9 % |
| No | 31 | 26.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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