Blackhawks defenseman Nolan Allan providing 'solid play' while adjusting to NHL

DENVER — Young Blackhawks defenseman Nolan Allan skated one lap around Ball Arena on Monday in Colorado and immediately felt the impact of the elevation."It's my first time I've ever been here, so it was a bit of an eye-opener in morning skate," Allan said. "You go up and down the ice and you're just out of gas."Every day, Allan feels like there's something new to adjust to in the NHL, and that's generally a universal experience for rookies. Making the Hawks' roster out of training camp was an accomplishment for the 21-year-old Saskatchewan native, but it doesn't get any easier to hold a spot as the regular season progresses."[It's amazing] how good you have to be defensively to not give them looks, because [NHL forwards] can make plays out of nothing," he said.The Hawks-Avalanche matchup Monday will mark his seventh career NHL game and his sixth consecutive appearance in the Hawks' lineup. He has held his own so far; the Hawks have scored four goals and conceded four — a respectable ratio — during his five-on-five ice time on the third pairing."[He's providing] solid play," coach Luke Richardson said. "There's not a lot of big mistakes by him. [He's] learning a few little things on the fly, but he's strong, he's a good skater and he's playing confident. We like everything about him right now."One of those things Allan has learned is how to better read and defend opponents' rushes.He has a clearer sense now than he did at the start of October, for example, of how to decipher indicators like the handedness of the puck-carrier and the speed at which the opposing forwards are moving in order to determine how to push the rush into an area where he can cut off the play. The basic idea is to keep the puck out of the center of the ice, but there's more to it than that.In between all of those lessons, though, he has also taken some time to appreciate the novelty of this rookie adventure."I've still got to pinch myself every morning that I'm still here," he said. "It's been a really cool experience, and I'm thankful for every day."Deflection consolationSeth Jones didn't need to watch the video that made the rounds late Saturday night on social media to know his point shot in the final minute against the Stars was headed for the net. He saw it with his own eyes, in the moment.A well-meaning Nick Foligno unfortunately deflected the shot down and wide, denying the Hawks their last chance to equalize and force overtime. The Hawks' captain was upset about it afterward, but Jones told him not to beat himself up about it."I'm like, 'Tip every puck. It's just unlucky.' It could bounce and go in," Jones said. "[Jason Dickinson] was there too; it bounced over his stick at the last second. It's kind of the way it was."This and thatNo. 2 pick Artyom Levshunov played his first two career AHL games this weekend, tallying one assist as Rockford split a back-to-back set against the Jets' affiliate.Goalie Arvid Soderblom recovered from his illness and rejoined the Hawks on Monday, so prospect Drew Commesso was reassigned to Rockford.Foligno has been credited with 31 hits this season, which ranks 12th in the league. On the Hawks' leaderboard, second-place Pat Maroon trails far behind with 18 hits.Meanwhile, Wyatt Kaiser leads the Hawks in blocked shots (24), with Alex Vlasic (21) and Connor Murphy (19) following behind him.

Oct 28, 2024 - 22:08
 0
Blackhawks defenseman Nolan Allan providing 'solid play' while adjusting to NHL

DENVER — Young Blackhawks defenseman Nolan Allan skated one lap around Ball Arena on Monday in Colorado and immediately felt the impact of the elevation.

"It's my first time I've ever been here, so it was a bit of an eye-opener in morning skate," Allan said. "You go up and down the ice and you're just out of gas."

Every day, Allan feels like there's something new to adjust to in the NHL, and that's generally a universal experience for rookies. Making the Hawks' roster out of training camp was an accomplishment for the 21-year-old Saskatchewan native, but it doesn't get any easier to hold a spot as the regular season progresses.

"[It's amazing] how good you have to be defensively to not give them looks, because [NHL forwards] can make plays out of nothing," he said.

The Hawks-Avalanche matchup Monday will mark his seventh career NHL game and his sixth consecutive appearance in the Hawks' lineup. He has held his own so far; the Hawks have scored four goals and conceded four — a respectable ratio — during his five-on-five ice time on the third pairing.

"[He's providing] solid play," coach Luke Richardson said. "There's not a lot of big mistakes by him. [He's] learning a few little things on the fly, but he's strong, he's a good skater and he's playing confident. We like everything about him right now."

One of those things Allan has learned is how to better read and defend opponents' rushes.

He has a clearer sense now than he did at the start of October, for example, of how to decipher indicators like the handedness of the puck-carrier and the speed at which the opposing forwards are moving in order to determine how to push the rush into an area where he can cut off the play. The basic idea is to keep the puck out of the center of the ice, but there's more to it than that.

In between all of those lessons, though, he has also taken some time to appreciate the novelty of this rookie adventure.

"I've still got to pinch myself every morning that I'm still here," he said. "It's been a really cool experience, and I'm thankful for every day."

Deflection consolation

Seth Jones didn't need to watch the video that made the rounds late Saturday night on social media to know his point shot in the final minute against the Stars was headed for the net. He saw it with his own eyes, in the moment.

A well-meaning Nick Foligno unfortunately deflected the shot down and wide, denying the Hawks their last chance to equalize and force overtime. The Hawks' captain was upset about it afterward, but Jones told him not to beat himself up about it.

"I'm like, 'Tip every puck. It's just unlucky.' It could bounce and go in," Jones said. "[Jason Dickinson] was there too; it bounced over his stick at the last second. It's kind of the way it was."

This and that

No. 2 pick Artyom Levshunov played his first two career AHL games this weekend, tallying one assist as Rockford split a back-to-back set against the Jets' affiliate.

Goalie Arvid Soderblom recovered from his illness and rejoined the Hawks on Monday, so prospect Drew Commesso was reassigned to Rockford.

Foligno has been credited with 31 hits this season, which ranks 12th in the league. On the Hawks' leaderboard, second-place Pat Maroon trails far behind with 18 hits.

Meanwhile, Wyatt Kaiser leads the Hawks in blocked shots (24), with Alex Vlasic (21) and Connor Murphy (19) following behind him.

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