Drafted By Blackhawks, Westport's Mike Paliotta Hopes To Play in NHL Soon

Westport’s Mike Paliotta, who was picked by the Chicago Blackhawks in the third round of this year's NHL draft, participated in the team's developmetal camp last week.

The 18-year-old defenseman thinks he made a favorable impression at the camp.

"I'm really looking forward to developing and hopefully playing for that organization really soon," he said Wednesday at the Big III exhibition game in Darien. "I think I played pretty well out there. I was happy with how everything went and I'm really happy to be picked by that organization."

A Rangers' fan growing up, Paliotta hopes to follow in the footsteps of fellow Connecticut defenseman Brian Leetch, his idol as a boy. At 6-3 and 185 pounds, Paliotta is bigger than the Rangers' Hall of Famer.

"I think (the Blackhawks) thought I might have went a little higher, maybe second round, so when they saw me available at 70 in the third round, I think they felt that maybe I was a little bit of a steal," he said.

While the Blackhawks will retain his rights, Paliotta has elected not to immediately sign with the team, opting instead to enroll at the University of Vermont in August.

A former player at Choate, Paliotta spent the last two years with the United States developmental team in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he was a teammate of Stamford's Ryan Haggerty.

Paliotta also played in the United States Hockey League, winning a World Under-18 gold medal in April. He was one of only five players drafted this year from New England, none of whom went higher than the third round.

One of the players Paliotta spoke with in Chicago was Dylan Olsen, the Blackhawks' first-round pick in 2009 who spent last season with Rockford of the AHL.

"It was a good week," Paliotta said. "They had a lot of young guys there, all the draft picks from the last couple of years, a couple of their free agents. It was good for me. I was one of the youger guys there, but I was happy with how the week went."

Paliotta thinks he brings a lot to the table.

"I think I bring a different type of game than most of the defensemen in the organization," he said. "I'm a tough-to-play-against, physical defenseman with good size and good mobility and I move the puck pretty well. They told me that's pretty unique in the organization."

While Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook are mainstays on the blueline in Chicago, there may be a spot among the top six defensemen available for Paliotta in the next year or two.

"They look like an organization that's going younger," Paliotta said. "With that being said, I think they do have a good corps of prospects in their organization and that means I'm going to have to work just as hard as anyone else and harder than most guys to earn a spot on that top six on their blueline. I'm just going to take it step by step. I think I have a couple years to go before I sign."

When Paliotta gets to Vermont, there will be at least one familiar face. New Canaan native Drew MacKenzie will be a senior for the Catamounts. Paliotta and MacKenzie work out together at Body Tuning in Darien.

While it meant living away from home, ala Canadian juniors, Paliotta wouldn't trade his experience in Michigan for anything.

"Those two years in Ann Arbor were not only a hockey-changing time for me, but a life-changing experience," he said. "Living laway from my family was great for me just to develop as a person and a player. Representing your country on a daily basis obviously is an unbelievable experience. I'll never forget my time in Ann Arbor."

Now, it's time for him to begin a new chapter in his life. He will be joining a Vermont team looking to get back on track, as the Catamounts are coming off an uncharteristic 8-20-8 season.