Blackhawks prospect AJ Spellacy is destined to make the team following old-school NHL preseason showing
Photo credit: Chris Sweda Chris Sweda | Credit: Chicago Tribune
AJ Spellacy has had a successful run with the Chicago Blackhawks, so much so that he's survived multiple rounds of cuts by the Blackhawks.
What is the secret? Well one reason we can deduce so far, is that Spellacy works the ice in a way many GMs and head coaches love.
He moves with speed and plays with a physicality that can change the pace of a game and isn't afraid to hit. He's a multi-sport athlete who decided to give up football to pursue a career in professional hockey.
Along with his speed, Spellacy brings a high amount of physicality to the table, dishing out bone-crushing hits with his 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame. He is also known to drop the gloves from time to time, engaging in four fights this season.
He's not afraid to lay the body, and fight and is still in Chicago, after the Blackhawks have sent 6 players to the AHL, and placed Zach Sanford and
Brett Seney on waivers.
On Sunday morning, the Blackhawks sent six more players to Rockford. Chicago's training camp roster is now down to 35 players (19 forwards, 11 defensemen, 5 goaltenders).
The six players heading to Rockford: forwards
Landon Slaggert, Colton Dach,
Cole Guttman,
Ryder Rolston and
Samuel Savoie and defenseman
Ethan Del Mastro.
Yes, AJ Spellacy is still in Chicago. Hopefully we see
Wyatt Kaiser back on the ice at some point because he hasn't practiced in five days now for maintenance.
Spellacy is 18-years-old, which leaves an interesting conundrum we saw
Kevin Korchinski last season.
Korchinski was 19, and unable to play in the AHL, so the team decided to burn the first year of his ELC and gave him a shot in the NHL.
Since last year's squad wasn't as good as it was this year, Korchinski received significant time in the league to develop and it seems, he could end up in the AHL this year, at 20-years old. This time to correct any weaknesses found during last season's play.
This means, the Blackhawks could end up keeping Spellacy, or will they send him back to the OHL to his junior team, the Windsor Spitfires.?
Does Spellacy, who has modeled his game after
Tom Wilson have a spot on the Blackhawks NHL roster?
Seems like it'll be a tight competition for a spot this week after 8 more players were trimmed from the roster.
Previously on HawksInsider
POLL |
SEPTEMBRE 30 | 45 ANSWERS Blackhawks prospect AJ Spellacy is destined to make the team following old-school NHL preseason showing Do you think AJ Spellacy makes the Blackhawks roster or goes back to the OHL with the Windsor Spitfires? |
OHL | 30 | 66.7 % |
Opening night roster | 15 | 33.3 % |
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