![\"Landon](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/74871bb\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3790x2527+0+0\/resize\/840x560!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F20%2F97%2Fdd3102a74f14be4020b4454784c9%2Fslaggert-2.jpg\")
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The Blackhawks probably won\u2019t mail in their last eight games.<\/p>\n
With so many young players around, there\u2019s plenty of genuine excitement for the stretch run, even though it basically means nothing from a standings standpoint. This is the opposite of a veteran team simply going through the motions.<\/p>\n
Hawks forward Landon Slaggert is one of the drivers of that excitement. Nobody enjoys hockey \u2014 or really life in general \u2014 more than him. After practice Tuesday, he radiated joy on the left side of the locker room as he always does, and he was disappointed \u2014 not relieved \u2014 to realize the Hawks\u2019 season finale is only two weeks away.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish we had more time to keep going and keep improving,\u201d Slaggert said. \u201cIt\u2019s crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n
He is also excited for the offseason, though. Approaching his 23rd birthday, he believes he has formulated a smart plan to build upon things he learned during his first full pro season.<\/p>\n
He exceeded expectations offensively during the first half in Rockford, tallying 25 points in 39 AHL games, and he hit the back of the net twice in his first three NHL games this season after his late-January call-up. His production has dried up since then, with zero goals and one assist in his last 22 games, but he hasn\u2019t been discouraged by that.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really like where my game is trending, and I\u2019m feeling more comfortable out there,\u201d he said. \u201cThe game is slowing down, and I\u2019m making more plays. The points aren\u2019t coming as I hoped, but the biggest thing is getting those chances and figuring out how to execute and finish off a few more. I really like my play away from the puck defensively, and I\u2019ve been forcing turnovers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I\u2019ve realized is it is so marginal \u2014 the difference is so small between a goal or not a goal, [or] a chance or not a chance. It is just [about] finding a way to create a higher success rate out of these opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Slaggert\u2019s 6.9% shooting percentage (two goals on 29 shots) does indicate some bad luck. That\u2019s even more true for his fellow first-half Rockford standout, Frank Nazar, who has generated a ton of breakaways in recent games without converting any.<\/p>\n
Both of them are focused on learning how to finish against NHL-caliber goaltenders. Slaggert has even watched Connor Bedard\u2019s shooting release, searching for techniques he might be able to replicate.<\/p>\n
Looking long-term, however, offensive production will probably be a bigger part of Nazar\u2019s NHL success than Slaggert\u2019s. Slaggert wasn\u2019t a big-time producer even at Notre Dame; he knows his role at this level is \u201cenergy guy,\u201d not \u201csniper.\u201d<\/p>\n
With that in mind, he plans to work with Hawks skills coach Brian Keane this summer on various skills that will help him win more board battles and thrive in tight spaces. Hawks interim coach Anders Sorensen agreed that\u2019s a good idea, calling that \u201cone of the biggest areas\u201d where young forwards entering the NHL must improve.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy north-south skating ability is great, but [I want to] add a little more east-west lateral movement [so I can] hold onto more pucks and be good on my edges,\u201d Slaggert said. \u201cThere are some big defensemen out there, so the stronger I can be in dirty areas, [the better I\u2019ll be]. Because I find myself there quite a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Slaggert also wants Keane to help him improve his first touch so he can smoothly gather and handle pucks coming out of scrums. He\u2019ll live at home in South Bend this summer, working out with Notre Dame guys, but he\u2019ll also drive into Chicago frequently.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s motivating when you do see gains,\u201d he said. \u201cThey may seem small. [But] when you see a positive clip \u2014 like getting into a guy\u2019s hands or using my speed effectively \u2014 it motivates you to want to improve on it that much more.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Points have been difficult for Slaggert to come by so far in the NHL. He wants to improve his scoring touch as well as his lateral movement and effectiveness in “dirty areas” this summer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":19492,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19491","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chicago-blackhawks"],"yoast_head":"\n