The Chicago Blackhawks have wrapped up a busy day at the NHL Draft on Saturday, including the selection of second-round pick Alex Vlasic.
Vlasic, a 6-foot-6 defenseman who weighs in at nearly 200 pounds, grew up in Wilmette, and has played junior hockey with the United States National Team Development Program.
Last season, Vlasic had two goals and 13 assists in 27 USHL games with the squad, and the defenseman is committed to Boston University for next season.
According to scouting reports, Vlasic has a powerful slapshot, and is a strong skater, moving well for a skater of his size.
The Blackhawks waited until the fourth round of the draft to make their next pick, selecting Czech-born forward Michal Teply out of Bili Tygri Liberec in the Czech League.
Teply, another big-bodied forward at 6-foot-3 and 187 pounds, had two assists in 15 games last season, and has been praised in scouting reports for his stick-handling and passing.
With their second fourth-round pick, the Blackhawks selected Finnish forward Antti Saarela out of Lukko. The forward had seven goals and eight assists in 21 games last season, and has played well on the international stage in his young career, including five goals and four assists in 19 games with the Finnish under-18 squad last year.
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In the sixth round, the Blackhawks drafted a goaltender, snagging Dominic Basse out of the Selects Hockey Academy. He posted a 1.91 goals against average and a .924 save percentage last season, and is committed to attend Colorado College.
The Blackhawks wrapped up the draft with the selection of defenseman Cole Moberg, a 6-foot-3 blue liner from the Prince George Cougars of the WHL.
Moberg scored 13 goals and dished out 27 assists in 61 games with the Cougars last season.
Here are the Blackhawks’ remaining draft picks:
Round 2: Pick 43 - Defenseman Alex Vlasic - USNTDP
Round 4: Pick 105 - Forward Michal Teply - Bili Tygri Liberec
Round 4: Pick 123 (from Boston) - Forward Antti Saarela - Lukko
Round 6: Pick 167 - Goaltender Dominic Basse - Selects Hockey Academy
Round 7: Pick 194 (from Anaheim) - Defenseman Cole Moberg - Prince George
The Blackhawks traded away two fifth round picks that they had previously owned, including their own pick. That selection went to the Montreal Canadiens, who sent the Blackhawks a fifth round pick in last year’s draft as part of the swap.
The Blackhawks also traded a fifth round pick they had acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning, sending the selection to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Olli Maatta swap earlier this month.
The Blackhawks’ seventh round pick was traded to the Lightning in the Jan Rutta trade earlier this year.
