Why the Blackhawks like to draft players from USHL, US National Team Development Program

Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty ImagesThe Blackhawks have seven picks for the upcoming NHL Draft (Oct. 6-7), and history shows they will use one of those picks on a player from the USHL or United States National Team Development Program.

Chicago general manager Stan Bowman and vice president of amateur scouting Mark Kelley have used at least one pick on such a player every year since 2010, with 23.5 percent (20 of 85) of their picks on players who played in the USHL during their draft year. To narrow it down even more 45 percent (nine of 20) of those USHL players were from USNTDP. Just last year, the Blackhawks selected USNTDP defenseman Alex Vlasic in the second round to give them a…