Chicago Blackhawks Draft Profile: Defenseman Calen Addison
By Ryan Heckman
The 2018 NHL Draft is just days away. With anticipation that the Chicago Blackhawks will select a defenseman, we take a look at one of the best options.
We are now just a week away from the 2018 NHL Draft and the Chicago Blackhawks are ready to move on from a disappointing 2017-2018 campaign. With a little tweaking and a strong draft haul this year, the Hawks could be right back in playoff contention quickly.
This year’s draft class is stacked with defensemen, which is a great thing for the Blackhawks, who should undoubtedly go after the position in a big way. While Ty Smith would be a phenomenal option early in the first round, the Blackhawks will likely have a few backup plans if they don’t come away with the WHL’s top defenseman. Calen Addison of the Lethbridge Hurricanes could be one of those guys.
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Right now, it looks as though Addison will be a late first-round or early second-round pick. Because the Blackhawks don’t have a second rounder, Addison would likely go to them at no. 27 overall. Fortunately, the Blackhawks have two first-round selections, their first being at no. 8. I would bet they try for a guy like Smith with their first pick, but again, Addison could be a solid backup plan later in the first.
Addison is always going to be compared to Smith, primarily because they were taken first and second overall back in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. Obviously, Smith is looked at as the better player, but Addison still boasts a lot to like.
While Addison is a tad shorter, he’s stronger than Smith. One of the main differences aside from that is Addison being less of a gambler. Addison plays it safe on more occasions, taking into account of his surroundings and ensuring he can make the best play possible. Smith, on the other hand, takes a lot of risks — some of which end up paying off.
https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/989363845691883521
Peter Harling of Dobber Prospects gave a pretty solid assessment of Addison overall:
"“The right shot defenseman oozes hockey sense, is a precision passer and has a decent shot, but excels at creating transition offence and distributing the puck. Skating is an asset as he moves quickly, has good mobility and agility and strong edges. Addison is smart on both sides of the puck, is positionally sound and is not shy about playing physically, albeit his effectiveness is limited even at the junior level due to his size.”"
Like Smith, Addison is praised for his ability to distribute. He’s a fantastic skater in transition and is someone who can be relied upon to lead the way on a power play — an area of opportunity for the Blackhawks the last several seasons.
Addison is typically one of the hardest workers on the ice, and he always has been due to his being undersized. What he lacks in size, he makes up for with his wherewithal and smarts.
Next: Blackhawks Draft Profile: Ty Smith
One of the things he’ll need to work on, which separates him from the likes of Smith, is his awareness without the puck. While he’s great handling the puck, he could use a bit of polishing on his awareness without it. If he can manage to improve in that area, his ceiling is very high.