Brown: Landon Slaggert Showing He May Be Another Piece of the Puzzle

Most 21-year-old kids at this point of the year are enjoying their Spring Break and gearing up for a final push of their academic year. Landon Slaggert is trying to figure out how to finish his classes while skating full time for the Chicago Blackhawks.

“I’m in the Chinese history class right now–gotta get a history credit out of the way.” Slaggert said. “And then I have a business class. I think values-based leadership. So just kind of working my way through those hopefully I can get a good grade and pass the classes.”

Last night’s 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames earned Slaggert some high marks from his head coach and teammates. Fans were swooning too, where his two-point performance could have easily been four if two of the pucks he fired at the net ended up going in.

But he wasn’t worried in the slightest.

“Honestly, I couldn’t tell you what was going through my mind,” Slaggert answered postgame.  “I thought it went in, but then I turned around, the spotlight came on, so I think there was definitely some confusion for a second there. But, yeah, I guess I have to wait a little longer for it.”

Landon Slaggert Staking His Place So Far

The interview wasn’t longer than three minutes with Slaggert and the assembled media, but there was so much to take in. His confidence. The way he had no problem poking fun at himself. Even the classes he’s taking while being a full-time player shed a little more light about the player the Blackhawks have on their hands.

He fits precisely what they’re trying to build–both in how he carries himself to the way he plays the game. Heck, any college kid taking a values-based leadership course sure seems like someone you want in the locker room, especially one who served as the captain of the Fighting Irish.

Jason Dickinson called his play “fantastic” and couldn’t help but point out the efforts he put in Tuesday night.

“He’s been working hard,” Dickinson said. “He’s a smart player to play with, he fits in with our line really well, he plays hard, he puts pucks up the walls for us. Nothing fancy but that’s what our line wants, that’s what we need. We work well together for that to get pucks below the goal line and create from there.”

On both of Dickinson’s goals it was Slaggert fleshing it out, with one beginning in their own zone and the other behind the Calgary net. On the latter, it was a quick little bump off the boards that found Anderson, who then zipped it into the slot for Dickinson to finish off.

“I thought he fit in well with that line,” head coach Luke Richardson agreed.  “Nick’s done well there, Blackwell’s done well there but I think Landon’s perfect. He’s like a spark plug, he’s got a lot of energy, he makes the right plays in the zones, just like he did on Dickinson’s first goal and he creates on the forecheck.”

For the kid taking a Chinese History course, it seems he’s taking it to heart. After all, it was the noted general Sun Tzu who once said: “”If the enemy leaves a door open, you must rush in.”

Slaggert did that twice Tuesday night. If he continues, as his coach and line mate seem to think he will, Landon Slaggert could very well become another important piece of the Blackhawks rebuild.

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