Day after Irish career ends, Landon Slaggert inks entry-level contract with Blackhawks
SOUTH BEND — The hockey season may have concluded for Notre Dame Saturday night after its 4-3 loss at Michigan in the Big Ten Postseason Tournament quarterfinals. But there is still hockey remaining this year for senior captain Landon Slaggert.
The Chicago Blackhawks announced Sunday on their website that the 21-year-old Slaggert, a South Bend native and the son of Irish associate head coach Andy Slaggert and wife Tara, has signed a two-year, entry-level contract through the 2024-25 season that has a $912,500 salary cap hit. Slaggert, drafted by Chicago in the third round (the 79th overall selection) of the 2020 NHL draft, will join the Blackhawks later this week.
Attempts to reach Slaggert Sunday afternoon were unsuccessful. The Blackhawks were playing Sunday evening at the United Center against the Arizona Coyotes.
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In his final game as captain of the Fighting Irish Saturday night in Ann Arbor, the 6-foot, 190-pound left wing scored his 20th goal of the season — a career high — and added an assist (his 11th) for 31 points this season for the Irish, who finished 15-19-2. Slaggert also scored a goal in Friday’s 5-4 loss to the Wolverines. His 20 goals came on just 92 shots, a team-leading 21.7 percent.
“Landon has been part of my life since he was a little boy,” Irish coach Jeff Jackson said. “I knew then that he had a warrior’s spirit. Landon has been one of the most complete players that I have ever coached. What makes him so special is that his character matches his ability.”
During his four years with the Irish, Slaggert had 47 goals and 45 assists for 92 points in 136 games during which he produced a +11 plus/minus rating. In addition to playing on Notre Dame’s top line with freshman center Cole Knuble and grad-transfer right wing Patrick Moynihan, Slaggert was one of Notre Dame’s top penalty-killing forwards and played an important role on the Irish power play, scoring a team-high six times.
Prior to his career at Notre Dame, Slaggert played in 98 games for the U.S. National Team Development Program from 2018-20, scoring 23 goals and 25 assists for 48 points. He also represented the United States in two IIHF World Championships (2021, 2022) and helped Team USA win the gold medal in 2021.
Slaggert played his first two seasons with the Irish alongside his brother Graham, who plays for the Buffalo Sabres’ AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans, and spent his final season mentoring freshman brother Carter on the Irish. Like Landon, both Graham and Carter also came through the USNTDP.