The Chicago Blackhawks have signed Bowling Green redshirt sophomore defenseman Nolan Valleau to a two-year entry-level deal, the team announced Tuesday. Valleau was an undrafted free agent. The deal was originally reported by Thomas Schmeltz of the Sentinel Tribune.
Valleau, 22, scored two goals and had a team-high 17 assists for the Falcons last season. The 6’1, 181-pound defenseman played on the second-ranked penalty kill unit in the country, and ranked seventh in the WCHA among defenseman in points and seventh among freshman. He was third on the team in blocked shots (37) and was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team.
In the 2012-13 season, he tallied eight points (three goals, five assists) for the Chicago Steel and 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) for the Des Moines Buccaneers, both of the United States Hockey League. He also played hockey and lacrosse at Novi High School, where he won the 2011 MHSAA Division I State Championship.
Valleau played for the Jets and Blackhawks during their respective development camps this summer.
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