Moore's 'fast brain' has him on track for bright future with Blackhawks

CHICAGO --Growing up in Mounds View, Minnesota, Oliver Moore got to see plenty of the Chicago Blackhawks, the Minnesota Wild's Central Division foe.

"Obviously watching the Wild, the Blackhawks, watching guys like Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Brandon Saad, Brent Seabrook," the 18-year-old center prospect said at Chicago's development camp last month. "There are a lot of players to look up to. The NHL is a great league for that."

Sometime in the next few years, Moore hopes to help the Blackhawks get back to the winning ways they had with guys like Kane, Toews, Saad and Seabrook.

He had an outstanding season with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team, with 75 points (31 goals, 44 assists) in 61 games this season.

Moore, recognized for his speed, piqued Chicago's interest entering the 2023 NHL Draft. So much so, that after selecting center Connor Bedard with the No. 1 pick, general manager Kyle Davidson said from the time he sat down following that selection, he was on the phone with other general managers trying to move up from the No. 19 pick to get Moore.

Instead, Moore was there at No. 19.

"He's got a really fast brain," Blackhawks director of amateur scouting Mike Doneghey said. "You guys will see it when you watch him, he can fly, but his brain and his feet are on the same page.

"He processes the game so well. He doesn't cheat for the offensive side of it. He gets a lot of offensive chances because of his speed, but he's very detail-oriented in the defensive zone. Where he plays in the line, I don't know. Could be a second-line, third-line center, I don't know that yet. But he's going to be a good player for us for a long time."

Until then, Moore will hone his game with the University of Minnesota, where he's committed to play beginning this fall. Moore's a true center, but the Golden Gophers return two of their top three centers: Jaxson Nelson, who had 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) in 40 games and Buffalo Sabres prospect Aaron Huglen, who had 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in 38 games.

Logan Cooley, Minnesota's top center last season, signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes on July 27.

Moore said he is fine with shifting to wing if need be.

"I've had experience playing on the wing and at center, so I have a good amount of experience playing all over the ice and in different situations," he said. "For me, next year is just once again helping the team win and wherever I'll be best fit to help the team win. Whether that's at wing or center, I don't really have a preference."

Moore (5-foot 11, 188 pounds) has a few things he'd like to improve upon the rest of the summer.

"I think for me there's just so much more I can add with strength, speed, just size, overall size. There's just so much more I can add to my game, my shot, passing ability, watching film and just getting better at everything," he said.

Moore enjoyed his time at the Blackhawks development camp, which focused on off-ice activities this year. Someday he'll be in Chicago in a bigger capacity, but until then, there are other goals to reach.

"I learned a lot about how to be a pro off the ice and how to handle myself, how to take care of my body to make sure I'm getting the most out of all my workouts and my on-ice stuff," Moore said. "A big goal for me this year is to win a national championship at Minnesota. I'm really focused on that right now and excited to get there to do it."