The Blackhawks Added To Their Defense And Size During NHL Draft

The Blackhawks had a total of 8 draft picks over the 2 days of the 2021 NHL Draft. As the picks were made, you started to see a theme emerge in the players they selected. And it addressed a major organizational issue…two of them actually.

One of the biggest issues the ‘Hawks have had in recent seasons is their apparent lack of physicality, both upfront, and on defense. They have been drafting more offensive-minded defenders, such as Adam Boqvist, Ian Mitchell, and Nicolas Beaudin). These players were billed as skilled puck movers who were solid enough as defenders to make up for their lack of size.

Thus far in their early careers, that has not necessarily been the case. They have been out-muscled, and they have worn down as the season went on. Upfront, the Hawks are pushed around a lot with their lack of size and are not able to do as much in their own zone to help the defense.

Watching the Tampa Bay Lightning win their second straight Stanley Cup, their size and physicality, especially on defense, stood out as a major factor in their Cup run. They have a ton of skill, but when it is called for, they can muck it up with the best of them, and play a grinding, physical game.

Going into this draft, it was clear the Hawks needed to get more physical. And they needed to continue to add depth and talent to their organization. And from the early reviews of their 2021 draft class, they appear to have done just that.

Bolstering the Blue Line

Starting off with the blockbuster trade to bring Seth Jones to Chicago (shortly after acquiring his brother Caleb in the Duncan Keith trade), the Hawks surrendered the #12 pick, along with next year’s first-rounder, and their early second-rounder, along with Adam Boqvist. They got back a big-bodied Right Shot Defenseman who has been considered a #1 D-man in the past. They also got the #32 pick, which the Blue Jackets acquired in the trade of David Savard to Tampa.

At 32, they took Nolan Allen, a Left Shot Defenseman from the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League. Allen is a gifted defender, using his size (6’2″, 195 lbs) and skating ability to function as a shutdown defender. He does not provide much offense, but his calling card is physical, tough-to-play-against hockey in his own zone, which is something the Blackhawks don’t have a lot of in their organization right now.

At pick #91, they drafted big-bodied Taige Harding, a 6’7″, 235 lb left-shot monster out of the AJHL (Fort Barron). A developmental project, his skating needs work, which makes sense as he is still getting used to his Sasquatch-like size. But he showed some potential and would be a huge factor on the blue line if he can develop into a Colton Parayko-like player at that size.

At Pick #105, they took Ethan Del Mastro, who did not have a regular season this year after playing for Mississauga of the OHL last season. Another Left Defenseman, he has tremendous size at 6’4″, 210 lbs. Advertised as having good agility and mobility for his size, this is another defensive-minded pick, with some potential offensive upside. Strong in the corners and in front of the net, he brings another physical presence to the ‘Hawks blue line at some point down the line.

Finally, at pick #204, they drafted Connor Kelley, a teammate of Blackhawks 2020 3rd round pick, Wyatt Kaiser, at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He just finished his freshman season and has solid size at 6’1, 190 lbs. While not as especially physical or offensive defenseman, he shows some ability to get the puck out of his zone and make good reads. He is a developmental prospect for sure, but in the 7th round, you aren’t expecting future Hall-Of-Fame talent.