A year ago, Landon Slaggert was preparing for the start of his senior season at Notre Dame. On Saturday, he was signing autographs after the Blackhawks’ morning skate.
Life hasn’t slowed down for Slaggert since signing his entry-level contract with the Hawks two days after wrapping up a senior season that ended with a loss to Michigan in the Big Ten quarterfinals.
He had four points in 16 games with the Hawks while playing with teammates he grew up watching and against players he idolized, such as Islanders forward Anders Lee.
Slaggert, 22, has a rugged style and a deft scoring touch. After his brief NHL experience, he thought he could’ve held the puck more and showed more playmaking ability. But it’s promising that he can look back on those 16 games and realize he could’ve made more of an impact.
“It’s a process, but I also think not deferring,” Slaggert said of what he learned from his NHL stint. “You watch these guys on TV for a long time now growing up, so not deferring to them and just being confident in my own game and knowing I can make plays.”
Slaggert, a third-round pick in 2020, is different from most of the Hawks’ forward prospects. He plays a more physical style and is adept at scoring dirty goals in front of the net. Slaggert probably will begin the season in the AHL at Rockford after the Hawks signed five veteran forwards during the summer.
Despite the numbers crunch, Slaggert still can benefit a great deal from training camp. It’s an opportunity to make an impression on the coaching staff.
Over the summer, Slaggert said he worked on cutting off hands — using his stick to come over the top of an opposing player’s stick but low enough to avoid making contact with the opponent’s hands — and using his body more.
“A dog-on-a-bone work ethic,” coach Luke Richardson said of what he has seen from Slaggert.
“He does everything right. He did well in the rookie tournament, as well, especially having that little bit of experience at the end of last year.
“He’s just a good kid. He’s eager to learn and to show his best, so it’s great to watch him and see him progress daily. He ingests everything you talk to him about.”
In his first training camp, Slaggert is leaning on the vets for any advice. With the veteran influx, the Hawks’ locker room is stocked with leaders. Slaggert has talked with forwards Joey Anderson and Nick Foligno about adjusting to NHL life on and off the ice.
That eagerness to learn will serve Slaggert well with Rockford. Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson assembled the roster with veterans to ensure that prospects would have to earn spots as he tries to move the rebuild along.
The IceHogs will give Slaggert time to continue honing his game, but for now, he’s soaking in the rest of the preseason.
“Everything’s been high-compete, fast-paced and been really fun, honestly, just playing against these guys and getting out there with some good players,” Slaggert said. “Nothing surprising, but a really good time.”