Without having played a single game for Notre Dame, Landon Slaggert and Ryder Rolston already are NHL products. The freshman forwards both were taken on the second day of the league’s draft Wednesday. Slaggert was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the third round as the 79th overall pick. Rolston went to the Colorado Avalanche as the 139th overall pick in the fifth round.
The Blackhawks wasted no time picking Slaggert’s brain:
"I bring a lot of energy on the ice, and I'm a tough player to play against."
Center Landon Slaggert on his game. @ChevyDrivesChi | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/FTVPUtNZ4V
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 7, 2020
Meanwhile, here’s how analysts viewed the Rolston pick on the NHL Network:
Show us some grit, Ryder!#NHLDraft #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/U7kKXtfgtS
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 7, 2020
Slaggert has spent the past two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program. In 49 games, he scored 24 points with an equal number of goals and assists. Here’s part of his scouting report from the EliteProspects Draft Guide:
Slaggert played like a bulldozer in this game, he threw heavy hits, outmuscled opponents along the boards and seemingly always wanted to play the body to win the puck. He could outwork opponents in the slot as well. Showed some good speed and decent acceleration. Strong physically, dominates in board battles and in corners.
After two years with the U.S. National Team Development Program, Rolston played the 2019-20 season with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL. He had 33 points, including 16 goals, in 42 games. EliteProspects has this to say about him:
Stretched the zone and uses speed to beat defenders wide. Plays first unit PP. Great lateral mobility. Works hard to give good pressure on the backcheck. Good hands that work to protect the puck. Quick release on his shot, used edgework combined with puck protection handles to evade pressure in the offensive zone, even employed a kind-of “stationary spin” at one point.
