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Blackhawks: Breaking down Ian Mitchell’s first game in the NHL

Ian Mitchell #51, Chicago Blackhawks (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

After months of waiting, the puck has finally dropped on the 2021 NHL season, and all eyes were on one of the Chicago Blackhawks’ most highly-touted prospects.

Blackhawks’ defenseman Ian Mitchell made his NHL debut tonight as Chicago opened their season against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Mitchell was a standout star at the University of Denver and was drafted by the ‘Hawks in the second round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Right-handed defensemen are hard to come by, especially those that can consistently play the top four, so head coach Jeremy Colliton was definitely itching to see how Mitchell adapted to the NHL.