Nolan Allan’s season has been more about getting back up to speed than taking a major statistical step, and that context matters given he missed time early with a concussion. Since returning, he has played 23 games and his production of two goals and six points, mirrors exactly what he posted in 20 games last year. The consistency is actually a positive sign for a young defenseman who leans on structure, physical play, and timing. The offense is not expected to spike, but he has settled into dependable minutes and looks like he’s regaining the rhythm he had late last year when he played steady playoff hockey for Rockford.

Allan saw a split between the NHL and AHL in 2024-2025, with two-thirds of his time spent with the Blackhawks. At the NHL level, he scored a goal, and added 7 assists and 16 penalty minutes in 43 games. The 22 year-old rookie paced for an 82 game line of two goals, 13 assists, 31 penalty minutes, 32 shots, 116 hits and 92 blocks. You can get an idea what Allan’s contributions will be going forward, minimally offensively, and- from a fantasy perspective- mostly in the peripheral categories. He lined up with TJ Brodie for most of his even-strength time and saw solely penalty-kill time on special teams. Given that Brodie was placed on waivers for a buy out in June, one could expect Allan to see a growth in deployment this year. Your leagues’ settings will determine if he is worth rostering.

Allan was selected in the first round, 32nd overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2021 NHL Draft.

A mobile defender that has some raw elements to his game, Allan is a nice project for a team looking to mold a player with some interesting tools. His defensive game is fairly refined and that is his safety net. If the offensive game never truly comes through, his defensive presence and ability to thwart chances should be a trait that NHL teams look at and can project to the next level. He is quick on his feet and uses his stick well, maintaining a tight blade-to-blade gap. The Prince Albert Raiders defender is intelligent in his own end and reads play quite well, understanding when and where to fill lanes and how to establish body position around the zone. His transition game is fairly simple but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. He makes a quality first pass to exit the zone and has the mobility to join the rush when an opportunity presents itself but he often opts for safety. He understands when to reign his play in at the offensive blueline and doesn’t jump into the fray too often. When he does get involved at the blueline, he is often moving laterally in search for a passing or shooting lane but has a tendency to rush his decision and shoot the puck into feet. He has the raw tools to be a bit more effective offensively but doesn’t really put it together all that often. Nolan Allan is going to be one of those players that holds a much higher value in real life than he will in a fantasy league so beware that he isn’t too high on fantasy draft lists because he may not be able to provide the offensive pop.