Chicago Blackhawks signs top 2011 NHL Entry Draft pick Brandon Saad, to play in season opener
Chicago Blackhawks have announced the signing of their top 2011 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft pick, Brandon Saad, who was selected as the 43rd overall during round-two, to a three-year, entry-level contract worth an estimated $2.385
million on Tuesday, October 4, 2011.
Not only did Blackhawks sign the prospect, surprisingly, they also announced the participation of the 18-year-old forward in the 2011-2012 NHL regular season opener and that too on the starting along with top players, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp.
For Saad, it is quite unbelievable, but eyeing it as an opportunity to cement himself in the major league at such a young age, he wants to take full advantage of it.
"It's pretty unbelievable", Saad said. "They're both great players and getting Sharp back in the line-up obviously helps. Just being able to work up and compete with them in practice helps a lot".
It was during the training camp and preseason series in numerous matchups that Saad impressed the Chicago management enough to allow him the chance to amaze them even further in the opening games.
Chicago Blackhawks vice president and general manager, Stan Bowman, certainly acknowledges the player as being hardworking even though he was not a first round pick.
"I think for Brandon, it's been a journey here for him", Bowman said. "I know it was chronicled that he was disappointed not to be a first-round pick and to his credit he kind of took that as a challenge. You have to credit him for his hard work and determination.
He's earned a spot. That's a good story for us. We put him in a position to succeed and he seized it".
If the Pittsburgh native can continue making an impact on the Chicago Blackhawks roster with his game-playing tactics, Brandon Saad may just be the one of the first players in quite a while to continue playing with a major league team right after being drafted
and signed on to an entry-level deal.
Otherwise, Saad may be sent back to his minor league team in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Saginaw Spirit.
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