2015 NHL DRAFT: CATCHING UP ON THE HAWKS DRAFT PICKS

Rockford, Ill. - In last year’s draft the Blackhawks chose nine players. With another year for developing and refinement to take place, the Blackhawks will be looking to see if any of them can make a strong impression for the upcoming 2015-16 season.

Today, IceHogs.com will be taking a look back over the past two years draft selections and what they accomplished in 2014-15.

2014 Blackhawks draft picks:
Nick Schmaltz was the Blackhawks first round selection (20th overall) in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. The 19 year-old out of Verona, Wisconsin spent three seasons with the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League before attending the University of North Dakota in the 2014-15 season where he recorded 26 points (5g-21a). In his third season with the Gamblers, Schmaltz recorded a team high in assists (45) and points (63) in 2013-14.

Matheson Iacopelli was the pick in the second round (83rd overall) for the Blackhawks in 2014. Switching from a defenseman to a forward after his 2012-13 season with the Springfield Jr. Blues, he became a point per game player after being selected by the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the second round (23rd overall) of the 2013 United States Hockey League Entry Draft. In two seasons with the Lumberjacks, Iacopelli compiled a total of 100 points (64g-36a) as well as seven points (5g-2a) in 11 playoff games in 2014-15. In 2013-14, the 6’2 winger led the USHL in goals with 41 as well as tied with Nick Schmaltz (fellow Blackhawks prospect) for seventh in the USHL with 63 points in 58 regular-season games played.

Forward Beau Starrett was selected in the third round (88th overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. The 6’5 winger has skated for the South Shore Kings of the USPHL-Pr during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. He compiled 47 points (11g-36a) in 48 games in the 2013-14 campaign. Starrett is committed to play for Cornell University in 2015-16 where he will continue to develop as a member of the Big Red.

Nineteen-year-old Fredrik Olofsson was a fourth round draft choice (98th overall) for the Blackhawks in 2014. After being acquired in a trade from the Green Bay Gamblers, Olofsson flourished in his role with the USHL’s Chicago Steel. The forward was a point per game player in 2014-15, putting up 60 points (27g-33a) in 57 games. He also represented his native Sweden in the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.

Fifth round draft pick (141st overall) Luc Snuggerud played just seven games of junior hockey in the USHL before making the jump to playing Division I hockey with the University of Nebraska-Omaha. In his first season with the Mavericks, Snuggerud registered 16 points (2g-14a) on a young UNO team.

In the second of two fifth round picks, the Blackhawks selected Andreas Soderberg (148th overall) in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. The Skelleftea, Sweden native skated for Skelleftea AIK U18-Swe-U18 for three seasons (2011-12 to 2013-14) chalking up seven points (1g-6a) in 44 games in the 2014-15 season with Skelleftea J20 of the SuperElit league.

5’11, 149 pound forward Dylan Sikura (178th overall) was the selection when the Blackhawks were on the clock in the sixth round of the 2014 NHL draft. He played his first season of college hockey with Northeastern University in 2014-15, playing in 25 games. Sikura played three seasons with his hometown Aurora Tigers (OJHL) compiling 110 points (31g-79a) helping the Tigers capture their first North Division title since 2007 in 2012-13.

Russian goaltender Ivan Nalimov was selected with the Blackhawks second sixth round pick (179th overall) of the 2014 draft. In 2014-15, his first season with the Vladivostok Admirals of the KHL, he appeared in 30 games recording a record of 10-10-5 with a 2.76 goals against average to go along with a .900 save percentage.

With the Blackhawks last selection in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft they selected Jack Ramsey (208th overall). During the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, the nineteen-year-old skated with the Penticton Vees of the BCHL putting up a stat line of 63 points (26g-37a) in 111 games. He is making the shift to NCAA Division I hockey, playing with the Minnesota Golden Gophers in 2015-16.


2013 Blackhawks draft picks:
Right winger Ryan Hartman was selected in the first round (30th overall) in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. As a rookie in 2014-15, Hartman led all other IceHogs first year players in assists (24) as well as points (37). In addition he made his NHL debut with the Chicago Blackhawks later in the 2014-15 season where he appeared in nine games. Before Hartman joined the Hogs, he played with the Plymouth Whalers and racked up 53 points (25g-28a) in 52 games. He finished second on the Whalers in points during the regular season.

Carl Dahlstrom was the second round draft pick (51st overall) in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. In 2014-15, the 20-year-old defenseman made his debut with the IceHogs, playing in two games where he notched an assist after skating with the Linkopings HC where he played in 55 games (6pts-3g-3a). Prior to joining the IceHogs, Dahlstrom had previous experience skating with the Linkoping HC (SweHL) for 12 games marking one assist and 23 games with Linkoping J20 (SuperElit), totaling 2g-12a-14pts.

Center John Hayden was selected 74th overall in the third round in the 2013 draft. The Chicago, Ill. native completed 60 games with the U.S. National Development Team (USHL) before playing with Yale University (NCAA). With Yale, Hayden has appeared in 62 games and tallied 34 points (13g-21a) in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.

Stockholm, Sweden native Robin Norell, a fourth round draft pick (111th overall) in 2013, Norell skated in the three playoff games with the IceHogs in the 2014-15 season. With Djurgardens IF, the twenty-year-old tallied 14 points along with 11 assists and three goals in 70 games.

As a previous player on the U.S. National Development Team (USHL), St. Clair, Michigan native Tyler Motte was the final pick in the fourth round (121st) in the 2013 NHL Draft. The 5’9 center has skated with the University of Michigan (NCAA) the past two seasons, recording 49 points (18g-31a).

Nineteen year-old center Luke Johnson was selected in the fifth round (134th) in 2013. Johnson, a former player of the Lincoln Stars (USHL), played with University of North Dakota (NCAA) since the 2013-14 season. Johnson has totaled 19 goals and 26 assists in 42 games with UND.

Anthony Louis, a sixth round draft pick (181st) in 2013, signed his letter of intent to skate for Miami University in Ohio (NCAA) in the fall of 2013. As a RedHawk the past two seasons, Louis has appeared in 73 games accumulating 61 points (21g-40a).

Defenseman Robin Press was selected in the seventh round (211th) and was the last pick for the Blackhawks in the 2013 draft. Press got his first taste of AHL action, playing in two regular season games as well as four playoff games for the IceHogs in 2014-15. Before playing with the Almtuna IS (Swe-1) in 2011-12, Press skated with the Sodertalje SK (Swe-1) from 2012-13 to 2014-15, playing in 143 games and notching 49 points (19g-30a).

Season Tickets for 2015-16 Now on Sale: Reserve your seats today for the IceHogs 16th season of professional hockey and eighth as the AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks. Call (815) 847-6399 or visit icehogs.com to find a ticket package that fits your needs.