What are the Blackhawks getting in No. 66 overall pick Nathan Behm?

Nathan Behm started the draft year with first-round buzz swirling around him and was profiled as one of the more dynamic forwards in the class. He\'s a creative playmaker with the ability to both finish and facilitate. Although inconsistent production and play made his stock drop him to the third round, Behm still had a strong season by most standards and checks a lot of boxes that the Blackhawks covet in prospects, including a unique combination of skill, size, and dual-offense. That blend makes him one of the highest-upside bets in the 2025 draft class, even if he still needs to figure out how to have sustained excellence rather than just flashes.

Background

Position: Left/Right Wing

Age: 18 (April 18, 2007)

Hometown: Calgary, AB, CAN

Height: 6-foot-1

Weight: 203 pounds

Shoots: Right

Team: Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

Production: 66 points (31 G, 35 A) in 59 games

Behm rose through youth ranks with the Edge School U15 Prep and Calgary Royals U18 AAA, where he posted 57 points (28 G, 29 A) in 29 games at U15 and another 40 (15 G, 25 A) in 33 games in U18 levels respectively, before being drafted by Kamloops 13th overall in the 2022 WHL Draft. His first season in the WHL was solid with 31 points (12 G, 19 A) in 68 games, but it was his sophomore season leading up to the draft that put him on evaluators\' radar as a potential first-round talent.

At the start of the season, Behm was pegged as one of the WHL’s most dynamic offensive threats. With 24 points (13 G, 11 A) in his first 15 games -- including a pair of hat tricks that helped make him one of the WHL\'s players of the month in October -- he was among the league\'s hottest players, showing off a mix of solid physicality, creative playmaking and a scoring touch that lit up the league. It was one of the more electric starts the WHL had seen in recent years.

BEHM HAS GAME!

With 10 points in his last three games, the 2025 #NHLDraft -eligible and @blazerhockey forward, Nathan Behm, has been named the Tempo WHL Player of the Week!

📝 | https://t.co/Voq9my6GkZ pic.twitter.com/WnLYOxSkuI

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) October 28, 2024

But as the calendar turned toward the holidays, that fire began to flicker. In the 16 games that led up to the Christmas break, Behm’s production slowed to 14 points (6 G, 8 A), a pretty noticeable dip for a player who once looked on pace for a nearly 60-goal, 110-point campaign. While a post-break surge of 29 points (13 G, 16 A) in the 28 games closed the season on a stronger note, the final totals of 66 points in 59 games fell short of the gaudy projections set in October and early November.

That said, it\'s still a decently strong season, and he was one of the top-five forces driving the Kamloops Blazers’ offense this past year. He also did more than double his production from the previous year, which already shows improvement year-over-year. Analysts at Elite Prospects even noted Behm is in some good company when it comes to his production, as compared to other recent WHL draftees:

“Nathan Behm had one of the best draft seasons in Western Canada. The dynamic forward assembled a highlight reel that rivals many top-end first-round picks. At even-strength, he outscored many higher overall producers on a per 60 basis, including Gracyn Sawchyn, Brayden Yager, Clarke Caswell, and Lynden Lakovic, according to InStat Hockey.\"

Blackhawks get Nathan Behm with pick 66.

Fantastic value to get him there.

Big, youngish (April born), good production. Lots of these guys are often drafted in the back end of the 1st round (where they're good value there). To get him in the 3rd round... excellent value.

His… pic.twitter.com/8OucmDifoI

— Byron Bader (@ByronMBader) June 28, 2025

While he remains a bit of a project -- similar to several other picks in the Blackhawks\' prospect pool -- Behm offers a high floor as a middle-six power forward. If he continues to improve his pace, physical engagement, and defensive consistency, there’s a real chance he pushes toward top-six upside down the line. The question isn\'t whether the talent is there -- it\'s whether Behm can harness it consistently to progress into a NHL-caliber player down the line.

Skills Breakdown

Behm brings the full toolbox to the ice, combining size, skill, and a sharp hockey mind in a package that could thrive in today’s NHL with the right patience and development. The potential is evident in the charts below.

The 6-foot-2, 202-pound (as of NHL Combine) winger certainly fits the mold of a modern power forward in terms of size. He uses his frame fairly well, shielding the puck effectively along the boards and battling through traffic to maintain possession. Whether it’s digging pucks out of corners or holding his ground in front of the net, Behm shows a physical edge that gives him an advantage in contested areas. However, he doesn\'t always play to his size: his hit totals were modest and not always chosen well, his checking could be inconsistent at times, and there’s a sense that he could impose himself more often. Behm will need to improve his effectiveness in using his physicality in all aspects of play if he wants to succeed against bigger, stronger competition at the pro level eventually.

Who else but Nathan Behm!? 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Icbp1CZX1B

— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) September 29, 2024

Skating is one of the areas Behm most needs refinement, but it\'s basically average currently, so there\'s a solid foundation to work with for improvement. He has decent straight-line speed, but he lacks explosive acceleration, which sometimes shows up in his lack of pace. He is an otherwise smooth, powerful skater who has done well in the structure of the offensive zone, especially when driving to the net.

Nathan Behm doing Nathan Behm things. pic.twitter.com/KZnFFZ5hlI

— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) November 30, 2024

Nathan Behm really said, "don't worry fellas. I got this one!" @blazerhockey pic.twitter.com/6w7UmQGiWT

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) March 10, 2024

For transition, Behm likes to skate through the neutral zone but pass into the offensive zone, supplementing his less ideal skating with his more elite hands (more on that below). He\'s able to pull off power skating moves more in-zone than in transition, and his carry-ins are hit or miss in effectiveness. Considering how important it is to generate scoring chances off transition plays in the NHL today, Behm improving his first-step quickness and edgework could be key to unlocking his full offensive potential.

Offensively, Behm arguably has an NHL-ready shot with translatable shooting habits. His shot release is quick and deceptive, with a backhand that ranks among the more refined in his WHL class and may also arguable be of NHL-quality already. He thrives in the middle of the ice, where he consistently generates offense and has a high shot volume, shooting a lot from high-danger areas. He\'s not always the best at shot selection, sometimes throwing the puck on net at inopportune times, but there is always a willingness to get to areas to try generating a chance. His one-timer can be especially dangerous. Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis said that Behm\'s efforts to add strength to his game has been reflected in bettering his shooting:

“Behm has always been a decent goal-scorer at every level, but he has found a way to put more muscle behind his shot while being better defensively, too.”

Welcome back, Nathan Behm!

The 17-year-old has three goals in his season debut. @blazerhockey | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/Emg6ogQbSn

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) September 28, 2024

Behm\'s puck handling and playmaking are also strong: he has soft hands, creative tendencies, and deceptive offensive instincts. He uses puck handling as a tactical weapon with mechanics that are already decently polished, highlighted mostly in give-and-go play with teammates where he\'ll often finish the play (see second clip below). His hands allow him to weave through layered defensive coverage and manipulate passing lanes through misdirection and clever reads. Behm is always looking for passing options, even sometimes to his detriment, by forgoing better shooting opportunities while chasing an assist or forcing through traffic when it\'s not advisable. The latter is part of why he has high slot shot attempts but low success percentage. Working on evaluating both shot and pass selection will be key to whether his offense can translate to the NHL.

Nathan Behm of Kamloops still isn’t getting the hype he deserves for the 2025 NHL Draft. Currently he is on Pace for 62 Goals, but he can Distribute as well. Here are a couple standout assists for him on Sunday (he had a 3G, 3A Night): pic.twitter.com/BUa5lDGJGv

— Western Hockey Scout (@Pete___Hughes) October 24, 2024

Nathan Behm keeps the momentum rolling with a BEAUTIFUL goal 😮💨 @blazerhockey | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/pluAVwJPJP

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) January 4, 2025

Defensively, the foundation is there for Behm but remains a work in progress. His positioning is generally reliable, but his defensive engagement often lacks the urgency and detail that define his offensive puck-possession game. He can be guilty of puck-watching or reacting a step too late on quick transitions, occasionally leaving his team exposed in vulnerable areas of the ice. That can especially be an issue considering his skating isn\'t explosive enough to recover quickly when plays break down or shift directions. To his credit, Behm shows a willingness to defend more often than not, but the next step is playing with more defensive intent and learn to be more disruptive.

David St-Louis from Elite Prospects summed up how Behm\'s physical effectiveness could positively impact his defense:

\"There’s also defensive potential with flashes of puck-winning skills combining his reach and frame. Details will have to improve to better leverage his skills, whether that’s moving through contact or taking the extra stride to skate through the hands and secure possession. Initiating contact more often, both with and without possession, will take his offensive game to the next level and help minimize the quieter stretches.\"

In terms of hockey sense, Behm tends to process the game quickly and make smart, efficient plays with the puck, but he\'s not always consistent in this area. There are some decision making issues when under pressure, for example, that he\'ll need to work to minimize as he develops. His turnover rate was fairly high for the WHL, but not many came back to bite his team with goals against, so at least they were somewhat benign errors.

The main concern for Behm is whether he has the ability to maintain a high level of play over the course of a full season. After his blistering start, Behm’s performance was spotty through the middle stretch of the season and his production tapered off as a result, raising questions about his nightly impact. Considering the Blackhawks have picked many high-hustle, tenacious players, it\'s interesting to see them take Behm, who has a questionable or not-yet reliable motor.

Conclusion

Behm profiles as a potential middle-six winger with legitimate NHL upside. His shot and puck-handling ability are already pro-caliber, giving him a clear offensive toolkit to build on. But for Behm to carve out a role in Chicago’s system -- and eventually crack an NHL roster -- he’ll need to elevate his physical engagement and show more reliability in his two-way game. His flashes of brilliance are undeniable -- analysts at Elite Prospects labeled Behm as “one of the market’s biggest upside swings” -- but the challenge now is turning those moments into a more consistent presence game in and game out. If he can round out the consistency in his game and more fully leverage his physical frame, he has all the tools to grow into a middle-six power forward with high-end secondary scoring potential at the NHL level.

Scouting Reports

One of the prospects that I thought improved upon my initial viewings to become a projectable NHL prospect; Behm combines a strong north/south game with good skill and intensity that could project to the middle of the lineup if he continues to develop. Hes still working on his edgework and is oftentimes finding himself off-balance and can’t make two hard cuts without stumbling or falling down, but his ability to make an inital move when entering the zone compared to earlier in the year has greatly improved his offensive transition game and thus making him a more productive player in the offensive zone. He has a nice shot from medium distance and is a player who looks to move the puck to dangerous areas of the ice in the offensive zone in a passenger zone. While he was one of the lowest volume passers in my dataset, when he was given the chance to create plays he was highly effective in transition (81% success rate) and started to hit 4-5 shot attempts at even strength to close out the year. I like his upward climb throughout the season and expect growth in his D+2 that would make him a valuable second round pick.

-- Austin Garret, Smaht Scouting

After trading their second-round picks to get West, the Hawks\' next pick came in the third round when they got Nathan Behm. He’s a good shooter who excels when playing confident hockey, attacking defenders head-on with skill. He always seemed to create something, whether he was making a crisp pass after getting hit by a defender, forechecking hard or cycling the puck up the wall before heading to the net. Behm must get more fluid on his feet if he wants to play in the NHL, but there’s a solid base to work on.

-- Tony Ferrari, The Hockey News

Behm was a riser in the first half of the season before leveling off a little in the second half... Behm was a first-rounder in the WHL and is a good-sized winger with some skill, but I’ve had a tough time with him because I don’t think his skill level is dynamic/screams top-sixer; his off-puck play defensively needs some development and he needs to be more consistent in his competitiveness and physicality if he wants to become a bottom-sixer. But he’s also almost 6-foot-2 and over 190 pounds, he\'s got a quick and natural release, good skill, he skates well enough (I like him on cuts/attacking on angles) and he gets open and finds his way onto chances around the slot with good instincts inside the offensive zone. If he can work on some of his habits and work rate, he’ll be a good player.

-- Scott Wheeler, The Athletic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwMJRVkbKAk&t=1s

Talking Points