I’ve highlighted Nolan Allan numerous times because, as a rookie making his NHL debut, he’s demonstrated impressive composure in high-pressure situations. With Alec Martinez out for a couple of weeks and Seth Jones also sidelined, the Blackhawks have limited options for giving players a break. However, Allan seems to be managing without needing a reset, unlike many other teammates.
Last season, Wyatt Kaiser struggled in his first full NHL season, which resulted in a stint with the IceHogs before he found his footing. In contrast, Allan spent his entire initial professional season with the IceHogs, and this experience is now benefiting the Blackhawks significantly. Ben Pope recently wrote an article praising Allan’s calmness during tense moments. At just 21, Allan has avoided many “oh no” situations, largely due to his self-awareness about what it takes to stay in the league long-term.
“He understands the type of player he aspires to be, which is commendable as not many players have that clarity,” said Hawks assistant coach Kevin Dean, who manages the defense.
“He knows that to achieve his potential — [becoming] a player who lasts a decade or more in the league — he needs to be a stay-at-home defenseman who effectively moves the puck, blocks shots, and plays physically around the net.”
Despite being a 21-year-old rookie defenseman, Nolan Allan performs with the maturity of a seasoned veteran.
His reliability is a significant factor in why the Blackhawks’ defensive play hasn’t been a major issue this season.
On a related note, the Blackhawks must diversify their offensive strategy so that opponents focus on more than just Connor Bedard’s line. Bedard’s line faced tough competition from Sacha Barkov’s line on Thursday night — a challenge many players endure (just ask the Oilers). With Matvei Michkov on the opposing team today, fans may witness exciting moments in what could become a notable rivalry stemming from the 2023 draft class. For context, Bedard has gone 11 consecutive games without scoring, and the Panthers outshot the Hawks 10-0 during his time on the ice last night.
Jason Dickinson missed most of the second period on Thursday due to a hand injury and did not practice on Friday. Head coach Luke Richardson confirmed that Dickinson should be ready for today’s game.
As the Blackhawks prepare to face Philadelphia, here’s an interesting trivia fact from Elliotte Friedman: Erik Johnson’s 1,000th game makes the 2006 Draft the first in which the top seven picks reached that milestone. Johnson was the first overall pick, followed by Jordan Staal, Jonathan Toews, Nicklas Backstrom, Phil Kessel, Derick Brassard, and Kyle Okposo.
Now, let’s look at some highlights from Blackhawks prospects: The IceHogs faced the Stars in Texas last night, with Frank Nazar scoring his fourth goal in three games, leading to a 2-1 victory. Drew Commesso made 27 saves, allowing only one goal.
This makes four goals in three games for Frank Nazar, a 2022 first-round draftee for the Blackhawks.
Meanwhile, Minnesota played Notre Dame, where it was evident which team held a top-five national ranking. The Blackhawks’ two prospects from the Gophers, who had been relatively quiet lately, delivered an impressive performance on Friday night.
