CHICAGO — There's a lot the Chicago Blackhawks like about prospect Ian Mitchell, but the fact that there's not much they dislike might be the most appealing.
Mitchell, a 5-foot-11, 173-pound defenseman from St. Albert, Alberta, was selected by the Blackhawks with the No. 57 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. Chicago used its second of nine picks to draft Mitchell primarily because he's a true two-way player.
“He has to continue to mature as a player and get a little stronger physically, but with Ian we didn't really recognize any areas where he was deficient,” said Blackhawks director of amateur scouting Mark Kelley. “He's an elite skater, he's a very smart player and what also stands out is his decision-making with the puck, especially in the defensive zone.”