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The Blackhawks finished the first round of the NHL draft Friday by selecting a player many expected to go closer to the end of the second round.
After trading down from 12th to 32nd in the Seth Jones trade, the Hawks picked Canadian defenseman Nolan Allan. Allan was ranked 40th among North American skaters in the Central Scouting Service’s final rankings and 59th among all players in TSN’s final rankings.
But the 18-year-old defenseman does boast a lanky frame (6-2, 195 pounds) and good instincts in his own zone. Scouting reports describe him as a stay-at-home defenseman and penalty-killing specialist who covers opposing forwards well but contributes little offense.
Team Canada’s Shane Wright celebrates his first of three goals against Sweden.IIHF.com There were predictions that Team Canada would have a potentially dominating team at the World Under-18 Hockey Championship, but what they put together in their opening game was beyond the pale.
Shane Wright of the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs scored a hat trick to lead Canada to a 12-1 thumping of Sweden in their first round-robin game of the tournament in Frisco and Plano, Texas.
Defenceman Brandt Clarke (Barrie Colts) scored twice and finished with four points, while Francisco Pinelli (Kitchener Rangers) added a goal and two assists. Nolan Allan (Prince Albert Raiders), Mason McTavish (Peterborough Petes), Logan Stankoven (Kamloops Blazers), Brett Harrison (Oshawa Generals), Wyatt Johnson (Windsor Spitfires) and Ryan Winterton (Hamilton Bulldogs) all had single goals.