NEWSLETTER
On Friday morning, Scott Powers at The Athletic reported one of the Blackhawks college prospects will be back on campus next year. Landon Slaggert, a forward some of us were watching to see if he would sign after his junior season reached its completion recently, told Powers he’s headed back to Notre Dame for a fourth campaign.
This makes sense on a lot of levels. Slaggert dealt with injuries this season, but the decision appears to be more personally driven than just improving his stat sheet. His younger brother, Carter, will join him on the roster next season. And their father, Andy, is an associate head coach for Notre Dame.
Landon played two seasons with his older brother, Graham, on the roster. So being able to play that big brother role for Carter next season is something that he’ll cherish. He alluded to that when I spoke with him back at the beginning of the season. Graham is finishing his first full season in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization.
“I think obviously the Blackhawks and on to the next level is a great opportunity and an awesome step in my career, but I think Notre Dame has a special place in my heart,” Landon told Powers on Friday. “And obviously having my dad as an assistant coach here and being here for so long, I have a very special connection to the university and the program, and being able to play with my younger brother, I think it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I don’t take it for granted.”
Slaggert, who turns 21 in late June, did a nice job for the US team at the August edition of the World Junior Championships. As Powers notes, the Blackhawks still like the player a great deal and see his versatility to play either wing or down the middle as an asset. He can test unrestricted free agent waters in August of next year if the Blackhawks don’t sign him, but that’s down the road for now.
“I have a really good relationship with the Hawks and seems like the right spot for me as of now,: Slaggert told Powers “I definitely think the Blackhawks are a great organization that I want to be a part of, and talking to guys within the organization, they value the way I play and the team they’re trying to build really values the aspects that I bring, so that’s exciting and something that I hope to contribute towards.”
