Blackhawks select center Kirby Dach with third pick
So much for taking the safe road.
Instead of grabbing local product Alex Turcotte or top-rated defenseman Bowen Byram, Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman stunned most observers and took 6-foot-4, 197-pound center Kirby Dach with the third overall pick of the NHL draft in Vancouver on Friday.
Dach, who scored 25 goals and had 48 assists for the Saskatoon Blades in the Western Hockey League last season, drew immediate comparisons to Ryan Getzlaf from NBCSN analyst Bob McKenzie.
"I really fell in love with his game," Bowman told NBCSN's Kathryn Tappen. "He brings so much to the table. … He showed not only does he have the size and the skill, the talent to make plays and do the offensive things that you hope a top player (will) do, but he was so competitive in the (WHL) playoffs.
"He's a hard guy to play against and that combination of size, speed, skill, intensity - it's hard to find those guys."
Byram and Turcotte went fourth and fifth overall to Colorado and Los Angeles, respectively.
The selection of Dach shouldn't be a total shock given the fact that coach Jeremy Colliton recently talked about his desire for the Hawks to get bigger and stronger.
"He was great at the physical play when the series got pretty intense in the playoffs," Bowman told reporters after the first round ended. "It was clear they were targeting him. He not only took it, but he gave it back. It was impressive to see him raise his game at the time of the year when it matters most."
Dach has most everything GMs are looking for in a top-end center: Silky-soft hands, impressive passing skills, a hard shot, and he's solid defensively.
"I'd say I'm a 200-foot centerman who has an elite playmaking ability and good hockey IQ and vision," Dach told reporters in Vancouver. "A guy I kind of compare myself to and want to play like is Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets - just kind of that bigger, rangy centerman who can play hard up and down the ice."
If Dach meets Bowman's expectations, it would give the Blackhawks incredible depth down the middle. Imagine Jonathan Toews, Dylan Strome and Dach centering the first three lines for Patrick Kane, Brandon Saad, Alex DeBrincat and a big-time free-agent signing or two.
Add in Drake Caggiula, Brendan Perlini (assuming he signs), Dominik Kubalik and Anton Wedin, and it would seem the Hawks will be a force to be reckoned with in the coming years.
The 18-year-old Dach could make the team out of camp, but he may need one more season to grow his game in juniors.
"We're going to give him every chance to do it," Bowman said. "It's sometimes hard for young guys, but I think he's certainly got the profile. … He's got NHL size right now. So you can't put too many expectations on it, but he's going to have every chance to be on our team."
Down the road, it will be interesting to see if Bowman should have selected Byram or Turcotte. Many believe Byram is a slam-dunk No. 1 defenseman in the mold of Duncan Keith - and we'll have plenty of opportunities to find out as he'll be playing in the Central Division with the Avalanche.
The Blackhawks have five selections Saturday, the first coming 43rd overall in the second round.
• Follow John on Twitter @johndietzdh