Another Blackhawks’ draft pick officially joined the organization on Friday morning, as defenseman Jakub Galvas — a fifth-round pick (150th overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft — signed a two-year entry-level contract:
Drafted by the #Blackhawks in the 2017 #NHLDraft, Galvas has recorded 11 points (2G, 9A) in 47 contests with Jukurit of the Finnish Elite League (Liiga).
His 11 points rank third among Jukurit defensemen.https://t.co/b0hXZA2fTg
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) May 6, 2021
The deal will not start until the next season begins and carries an annual cap hit of $867,500.
Galvas is a 5-foot-11, 161-pound defenseman and a native of the Czech Republic who was an alternate captain for his native country at the 2019 World Juniors. He’ll turn 22 on June 15 and has been playing in Finland for the last two seasons after spending the majority of his teenage years playing in his home country. Scott Powers of The Athletic recently detailed Galvas’ move from the Czech Republic to Finland, which was part of the development that earned him an NHL contract.
It remains an uphill battle for Galvas to crack the NHL lineup in Chicago, given how many young blue-liners are already playing with the Blackhawks and a few more earning significant ice time in Rockford. But this move suggests Galvas has been improving over the last few seasons and adds to the number of players from that 2017 draft class who’ve earned an NHL deal:
With Jakub Galvas signing today, the #Blackhawks have signed six players in their nine-player 2017 draft class.
✍️ Henri Jokiharju (traded to Buffalo)
✍️ Ian Mitchell
✍️ Andrei Altybarmakyan
✍️ Evan Barratt
✍️ Tim Soderlund
Roope Laavainen
Parker Foo
✍️ Jakub Galvas
Josh Ess— Brandon Cain (@brandonmcain) May 6, 2021
This doesn’t mean much of anything in terms of hockey but here’s a photo of Galvas with Adam Boqvist from the Blackhawks’ prospect camp in July 2019, when the prospects were apparently receiving lessons in nutrition:
Elsewhere in the hockey world, a familiar voice to Blackhawks fans will reportedly stay with NHL broadcasts when they move from NBC Sports to Turner/ESPN in the next hockey season. According to NHL Network correspondent Craig Morgan, Ed Olczyk has agreed to a contract that will make him the lead analyst for Turner beginning next fall:
Hearing that after talks w/Turner & ESPN, Eddie Olczyk has agreed to a 5-year deal to become Turner’s lead NHL analyst starting next season.
Word is Olczyk will still have freedom to cover horse racing for NBC.
Also hearing Ray Ferraro is in line to become ESPN’s lead analyst.— Craig Morgan (@CraigSMorgan) May 6, 2021
A notable omission so far: Pierre McGuire.