The Chicago Blackhawks traded two picks in Nos. 87 and 142 to the Arizona Coyotes for the No. 74 pick to select Finnish right winger Niklas Nordgren in the second round Saturday at the NHL draft in Dallas.
Niklas Nordgren said the #Blackhawks were one of his favorite teams growing up. pic.twitter.com/ZgZypB3qMV
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) June 23, 2018
Nordgren, 18, scored 13 goals and 42 points with HIFK’s under-20 team in Finland’s SM-lliga. The 5-foot-9, 170-pounder also posted three assists in 15 games for HIFK in Finland’s top league. He also scored six points (four goals, two assists) in two Champions League games.
Nordgren was a force for Finland at the under-18 World Junior Championship, scoring eight goals and 10 points in seven games.
The Helsinki, Finland native was ranked No. 21 by NHL Central Scouting among European skaters. His contract runs through the 2020-21 season with HIFK.
Nordgren was Chicago’s second third-round pick. The Hawks also selected American center Jake Wise with the No. 69 pick. It’s the second straight year Chicago has selected a center and right winger. In 2017, the Hawks drafted Russian winger and American center Evan Barratt.