The Blackhawks selected left wing Landon Slaggert of the U.S. National Team Development Program with the No. 79 overall pick in the third round of the 2020 NHL Draft on Wednesday.
Slaggert had 13 goals and 24 points in 47 games last season. The South Bend, Indiana native stayed home and will be a freshman at Notre Dame. He played three seasons for the Chicago Mission from 2015-18. He’s the son of longtime Notre Dame associate coach Andy Slaggert.
Slaggert is the third player headed to Notre Dame that Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman, a Notre Dame alum, has selected after forward Vinnie Hinostroza and Dennis Gilbert. Bowman also signed left wing Cam Morrisson, a 2016 second-rounder by the Avalanche, this summer.
The 18-year-old Slaggert is 6 foot and 183 pounds. He was ranked 88th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. Slaggert is the second player drafted from the US National Team Development Program by the Blackhawks in the 2020 draft after Drew Commesso was taken at No. 46. He’s also the second left wing after Lukas Reichel was taken in the first round.
Chicago previously drafted six players at No. 79: right wing Chris Clanan (2012), center Chris Tucker (1990), left wing Mark Murphy (1978), and defensemen Klas Dahlbeck (2011), Tarek Howard (1983) and Bob Hoffmeyer (1975). They drafted 79th overall in back to back years in 2011 and 12.
The Blackhawks have four picks remaining in this year’s draft: No. 81, No. 110, No. 141 and No. 172. Chicago has one more third-round pick and one pick in every round after that aside from the seventh when they have none.