Blackhawks sign 1st-rounder Nolan Allan to 3-year contract

Nolan Allan, the Blackhawks’ 2021 first-round draft pick, is now under contract.

The Hawks signed the 18-year-old defensive defenseman, taken with the 32nd overall selection in July, to a three-year entry-level contract Thursday with a $870,000 salary cap hit. Performance bonuses could ultimately raise his annual average value to $925,000, the maximum for entry-level deals.

“It’s something I’ve been working towards a lot this summer,” Allan said. “After getting drafted, that’s the next step. Really grateful to be able to sign and get that over with.”

Allan plans to return for a third season with the Prince Albert Raiders — his Canadian junior team — in 2021-22, which will slide the de facto start of his contract until at least next year.

However, he’ll first gain valuable experience as a headline player in two Hawks prospect games against the Wild this weekend in Minnesota, then in training camp starting next week. He said he doesn’t have a timeline for his professional jump in mind.

“I’ll learn what I can here at the pro level right now, and take that back and keep on building my game,” he said. “Whenever the time comes when I’ll be in Rockford or Chicago, then that’s when it’ll be.”

Notes: Lou Angotti, a forward for the Hawks for five seasons in the 1960s and 1970s, including on the 1971 and 1973 Stanley Cup Final teams, died Thursday at age 83.

• The NHL announced Thursday the Hawks will appear on national TV nine times this season. Five games will be on TNT, including the Oct. 13 season opener and Oct. 19 home opener. Three games will be on ABC, including Nov. 26 against the Blues, and one more will be on ESPN. Additionally, four other games will be streamed exclusively on ESPN+ and Hulu.