Allan shares ‘amazing’ draft moment with his family

It was a little bit of a surprise for the Allans to see Nolan get selected so early. All the pre-draft rankings had Allan going anywhere from late second round to early in the fourth round. The soonest any draft board had Allan going was 59^th overall, as TSN’s Bob McKenzie and Recruit Scouting both slotted along there.

A lot of players use not getting picked as motivation to prove all their doubters wrong. But getting picked earlier than expected, Allan is using it as a motivational tool for the opposite reason.

“It’s huge. It’s motivation to prove them right. Them going out and taking me higher than I probably should have went, it’s just motivation. I’m going to use that going forward and continue to work hard,” Allan said.

Allan’s message for Blackhawks fans is he’ll do anything to help this team win.

🇨🇦 Nolan Allan throws Nikita Chibrikov into the Canadian bench!https://t.co/ADZxxM1k5n pic.twitter.com/Bds2yDGz59

— Elite Prospects (@eliteprospects) May 7, 2021

“I’m the type of guy that will do anything to help the team win. I’m not afraid to block a shot on the penalty kill. I like to play at both ends of the ice,” Allan said. “Defence is my stronger suit right now, playing in that area of the game. And physicality is another area of my game that is a strength for me right now.”

Allan is the fourth Raider in history to be selected by the Blackhawks in the first round. Mark McNeill (2011), Dean McAmmond (1991), and Dave Manson (1985) were the previous three Raiders drafted by Chicago.

On Saturday, the Blackhawks also made a pick from the Raiders’ biggest rivals. The ‘Hawks drafted Saskatoon Blade Colton Dach with their second-round selection. Dach is joining his older brother Kirby Dach in the Blackhawks organization. Like Colton, Kirby also played his junior hockey with the Blades.

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW

by Jeff D’Andrea

Allan shares ‘amazing’ draft moment with his family

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