The Chicago Blackhawks signed forward prospect Nathan Noel to a three-year entry-level contract, the team announced Thursday. The contract begins next season and runs through the 2019-2020 season.
Noel, 19, is currently in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League semifinals for Saint John with fellow prospect Matthew Highmore, who signed with Chicago as an undrafted free agent in March. Noel has six assists in 12 playoff games for the Sea Dogs after recording 50 points (24 goals, 26 assists) in 52 regular-season games this season. The Sea Dogs are currently tied 2-2 in the series, and will play Game 5 on Friday.
The 2016 fourth-round pick’s numbers took a hit this season when he missed about a month due to an upper-body injury. He’s a right-handed shot and is a smaller forward at 5-foot-11 and 174 pounds.
The Hawks previously signed CHL forward prospects Alex DeBrincat, Alexandre Fortin, Graham Knott and Highmore to entry-level contracts that will all begin next season. Radovan Bondra signed an amateur tryout offer with the Rockford IceHogs after his season with Prince George in the Western Hockey League and Roy Radke also inked an ATO with Rockford before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. Radke could also sign with Chicago during the offseason.