FEATURE: Nordgren has passion for goal scoring

"I like to score goals."
English may not be Niklas Nordgren's first language, and yet that particular sentence came out crystal clear.
The 18-year-old right winger out of Helsinki, Finland has a knack for putting the biscuit in the basket, something that made him worth trading up for in the 2018 NHL Draft.

"Amazing feeling," said Nordgren, shortly after hearing his name called in Dallas.
"It's very exciting to go to the Chicago Blackhawks, one of my favorite teams in the NHL."
Nordgren watched Blackhawks games on television back home in Finland, and quickly grew his admiration for fellow winger Patrick Kane. The Blackhawks star has accumulated more than 300 NHL goals in the regular season since entering the league during the 2007-08 season. Visions of lighting the lamp in a Blackhawks uniform like Kane now run rampant through the mind of Nordgren.
"I like their players, I like their fans and the city," Nordgren said of Chicago.
Although taken in the third round, Nordgren could pay off for the Blackhawks. Despite his diminutive stature, the Finn is big on talent. He was NHL Central Scouting's 21st ranked European Skater. Scouts all agree on what gives him a chance to make it.
"Great goal scorer," said Blackhawks Senior Vice President/General Manager Stan Bowman.
"He has great instincts around the net," added Vice President of Amateur Scouting Mark Kelley. "He has a really good stick in traffic. I think if you look at him and track his goals, they're goal-scorer's goals. He gets in the dirt, he's not afraid and he's just got a really great release."
Even external scouting services tab Nordgren as quite the offensive talent.
"A triggerman who recognizes opportunities instantly and seizes them intelligently," said Red Line Report. "Excellent hands and finisher who can score in a variety of ways. Makes plays at full speed. Sees the ice well and is a good set-up guy."

Nordgren spent 2017-18 splitting time between HIFK Jr. and their team in the top tier Finnish league. In junior play, he potted 13 goals in 28 games, adding 29 assists.
"I am best at goal scoring and playmaking," he said.
Nordgren really showed off that ability for Finland at the U-18 World Championship, where he scored eight goals in seven games to help lift his home country to gold.
He finished with the most goals of any player, was named to the tournament All-Star Team and was named a top three player on his squad. His final tally of the tournament was the game-winning goal that captured gold.
"That was a good tournament for me and scoring the winning goal was an amazing feeling," he said.
At just 5'9" and 169 pounds, Nordgren is hoping to add some strength in the coming years in addition to working on possibly his biggest knock.
"Skating will have to be better if I want to play in the NHL," he admitted.
"Skating doesn't hold him back, but improving his first step explosion and elusiveness would make the transition to the next level easier for a player his size," according to Red Line.
Nordgren says he idolizes Washington Capitals Captain Alex Ovechkin and tries to model his offensive game after him. Red Line describes him as more of a Mats Zuccarello (New York Rangers) or Cam Atkinson type (Columbus Blue Jackets) type.
Nordgren hopes to have the opportunity to light the lamp in the same league as those three - and Kane - one day.