Blackhawks choose Blades' Dach with third pick of NHL draft
Smooth-skating centre first Canadian taken in this year's entry draft
Saskatoon Blades forward Kirby Dach joined some elite company Friday night after being drafted third overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in this year's NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver.
The last time a Blade was taken this high was way back in 1988 when defenceman Curtis Leschyshyn was taken third overall by the Quebec Nordiques.
Dach had a standout draft year, helping lead the Blades back into the Western Hockey League (WHL) playoffs for the first time since 2013.
The centreman scored 25 times and added 48 assists for 73 points in the regular season. In 10 playoff games Dach had nine points.
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound centre is not only big, he comes with a hockey IQ, great hands and a compete level that had NHL scouts taking notice of him.
The Blades would lose to the eventual WHL champions Prince Albert Raiders in the second round of the playoffs. Still, Dach's stock rose higher during those games as he proved to be an offensive threat every time he stepped on the ice.
The 18-year-old from Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., was the first Canadian taken in the draft. The New Jersey Devils chose American centre Jack Hughes No. 1 and the New York Rangers grabbed Finnish winger Kaapo Kakko at No. 2.
Three of the top seven picks were from the WHL. The other two were Bowen Byram, No. 4 pick of the Colorado Avalanche, and Dylan Cozens, No. 7 pick of the Buffalo Sabres.