With their second pick of the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks drafted forward Anthony (A.J.) Spellacy No. 72 overall.
Listed at 6-foot-3 and weighing 204 pounds, Spellacy is a big-bodied center man with speed who spent the last two seasons with the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL. His offense won’t really wow — he picked up just 38 points (21 G, 17 A) in 67 OHL games this past season — but he’s a dynamic skater with an extra speed gear who plays with a physical edge and has a high work rate on the ice. The Spitfires even gave Spellacy the team award for the Hardest Working Spitfire of the Year.
The Blackhawks originally acquired the pick used to select Spellacy from the Ottawa Senators as a part of the Alex DeBrincat trade back in July 2022.
An interesting note about Spellacy is that he grew up playing football and had at least five NCAA division football scholarship offers — including offers from Iowa and Illinois State — before he decided to sign with Windsor in the OHL.
Here’s some extra information on Spellacy from the EliteProspects 2024 NHL Draft Guide:
“It only takes a couple of strides or a crossover burst for Spellacy to separate from defenders. Many of his rushes are dynamic, pressing the dot lane to get defenders moving in the wrong direction before he finds another gear to drive the net. The effort matches the speed. Spellacy easily catches opponents, even from massive disadvantages, to steal pucks off their sticks. He’s a proactive down-low defender, bolstered by his constant desire to make contact.“