In June 2019, the Blackhawks packed their bags and a coveted No. 3 overall draft choice for Vancouver, a beautiful city where prospects were treated to, among other perks, a boat ride. A wiry lad, Kirby Dach, said seaside that he had talked to the Blackhawks, along with other teams.
The Blackhawks talked to other players but knew their ship had landed long before they arrived in British Columbia. It was Dach all along. Almost every expert had the choice wrong, but there was no doubt. The Blackhawks can keep a secret. Also, they hit a home run in Dach, a man-child with many tools.
"We couldn't zero in on someone like that now," said Kelley. "Not where we're picking. But we're very excited about Reichel. He's quick, he has a great shot, and he's starting to develop into a complete player.
As Kelley said, it is what it is now, or it was what it was when hockey, in concert with the rest of the planet, shut down because of COVID-19. No more junior games, no more playoffs, no more get acquainted dinners, no more combines. If you wanted information on a kid, you had to look back, not ahead. You could talk with his coach, and hope for an honest appraisal, but shaking hands with either was not only discouraged by science, it was impossible on Zoom sessions.
Of course, it is the same for all NHL franchises. However,
Kelley told Blackhawks.com
that the pandemic allowed for creative - and in certain instances - relaxed conversations. If he spotted a piano in the background of a young man's home, Kelley might inquire whether that particular lad multitasked. Back in the day, the Blackhawks drafted some great pool sharks and scratch handicappers. Occasionally, the Blackhawks had a better golf team than hockey team, and they couldn't blame a virus. Regrettably, it was discovered, too late, that a few draftees skated with that piano on their backs.