"There are certain things he's going to have to continue to get better at. His play on breakouts, his board plays. He probably has a natural tendency to not want to skate with the puck and it's something we talked about before, make sure when he gets it he goes."
"The biggest thing for him, he doesn't want to try out for six spots, meaning, you don't want to just try out for the top six. That's a hard thing to only have six spots to make. He has to show us the depth of his game and that he can add offense without having to be on the ice with the very best players on the team."
"It's hard to learn how to play 10 minutes a night when you're playing 20 minutes a night. So learning this is an important part of development, too."
The Blackhawks organization emphasizes continued player development even as young prospects join the NHL roster. Nick Lardis, recently recalled, is receiving limited ice time while working on specific skill improvements. Head coach Jeff Blashill highlights that Lardis needs to enhance his breakout play, board work, and willingness to skate with the puck. Rather than only auditioning for top-six roles, young players must demonstrate depth in their game and ability to generate offense while playing limited minutes alongside less elite linemates. This adjustment from higher-usage roles in minor leagues represents a critical developmental phase for prospects transitioning to the NHL.
Read at Bleacher Nation
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