Defenseman Alex Vlasic had an assist in six games for the Chicago Blackhawks this past season — to go with two goals and 17 assists in 56 games for the Rockford IceHogs — but the organization isn’t focused on numbers, just progress.
“It was really valuable for him to log some big minutes (in Rockford) this year and kind of be the man here,” IceHogs assistant coach Jared Nightingale said. “(There) really is a long-term vision of him being a big piece of the puzzle with the Blackhawks.
“He reminds me a little bit, how he moves, like (Colton) Parayko in St. Louis, just trying to compare the size (6-foot-6, 199 pounds). And he’s a puck mover like that and can shut down opponents. My opinion, he’s a better skater.”
Vlasic has a season left on his contract before he becomes a restricted free agent.
In Rockford, Vlasic mostly paired with Jakub Galvas, whom Nightingale called “a Swiss Army knife,” a selfless partner who helped prop up Vlasic.
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Nightingale said Vlasic is the IceHogs defenseman who has shown the most readiness for the next level.
“His skating and his size and how he can close time and space,” he said. “He’s very good at using that and angling. And he has a motor — he doesn’t tire.”
Nightingale said Vlasic is coachable and it shows on the ice.
“He’s really good at his poise in high-traffic areas,” he said, “whether it’s defending — (he’s) just going to steal the puck away — and (if) he’s got defenders on him, he can escape pretty quickly and pull away. But also he can slip passes in tight windows. Definitely passing is one of the strengths.”
The Wilmette native grew up in hockey — sister Emma Vlasic plays for the NWHL Connecticut Whale and cousin Marc-Édouard Vlasic is a San Jose Sharks defenseman — but Alex’s sureness in his abilities is not a given.
He admitted in March he was more confident with the puck, with his defense and with himself than the year before.
“Just more comfortable with the team, with the environment,” he said. “It’s not as scary (as) at first.”