C Anthony "AJ" Spellacy - Windsor Spitfires, OHL (2024, 72nd, CHI)

[MMC]

Welcome to Chicago

 

[57special]

He will be good for the Bears.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Good pick by Hawks at #72

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Great gamble pick here for the Blackhawks!

 

[monsieurthibz]

So the word with this kid is that he's got great attributes and all that, but if we're trying to stay realistic, what does he need to do to get to the NHL ?

 

[Hockeyville USA]

So the word with this kid is that he's got great attributes and all that, but if we're trying to stay realistic, what does he need to do to get to the NHL ?

Increase his offensive production in junior by finishing on his chances a bit more consistently, continue to be the fastest player in the league, be a PK threat every time he's out there, continue to be a physical force out there.

He fits into a bottom 6 very well long term, whether it is with the Blackhawks or not. He's the type that would have a lot more value in a trade package (when the Blackhawks are acquiring a high end NHLer once they're contending) than the average stats watcher (like many of us are) would originally think.

 

[dr1234]

He’s also fought someone nearly every time I’ve seen him live, so he’ll likely keep that up.

 

[dj Mahoney]

He’s also fought someone nearly every time I’ve seen him live, so he’ll likely keep that up.

How does he do in scraps?

 

[wetcoast]

He apparently has MAC level offers, still D1 but not the highest level. Still interesting seeing a kid who had options like that in football & hockey as there’s usually not a whole lot of overlap between those sports potential prospects. Baseball & football are more overlapping usually than the other sports.

Exactly because football and hockey are both fall sports.

My son played HS football and it's a huge commitment so obviously AJ would have been given some preferential treatment as he couldn't' be at 2 places at the same time but would have had the blessings of both programs.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Exactly because football and hockey are both fall sports.

My son played HS football and it's a huge commitment so obviously AJ would have been given some preferential treatment as he couldn't' be at 2 places at the same time but would have had the blessings of both programs.

Hockey is a winter sport that starts in the fall and ends in the spring. Football is a pure fall sport. AJ got a later start to his minor hockey season because he was playing football, but it was still doable as long as coaches were notified with schedules.

 

[wetcoast]

Hockey is a winter sport that starts in the fall and ends in the spring. Football is a pure fall sport. AJ got a later start to his minor hockey season because he was playing football, but it was still doable as long as coaches were notified with schedules.

Fair enough as that's what I was trying to say so obviously he was elite enough at both sports to warrant this.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

He can absolutely fly out there. Saw some Rookie Showcase highlights and he really gets up and down the ice

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Still in camp. Really good development from him. Should really grow offensively once he's back in junior as well

 

[Peasy]

Josh Anderson upside? Would be a huge hit if he became something even better though.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1840822644624769171

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Josh Anderson upside? Would be a huge hit if he became something even better though.

He's got some Josh Anderson in him, but he can skate like Michael Grabner

 

[cheesymc]

Skates well and is big, but will need to get better at fighting to be compared with a Tom Wilson. Maybe a Josh Anderson? Will need lots of development.

 

[LeProspector]

Closer to a .5 P/PG player than a 1.0 P/PG player is very concerning for a player that doesn’t project to have much offensive output at the next level, anyway.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Closer to a .5 P/PG player than a 1.0 P/PG player is very concerning for a player that doesn’t project to have much offensive output at the next level, anyway.

His numbers are legitimately worse than last season.

23-24: .57
24-25: .56

Obviously that's close and can change from game to game, but you'd like to see some offensive progress.

Yeah, his game won't be about offense. He can probably fourth line his way to the NHL, but I think anyone hoping for more at this point is using wishful thinking, given his current scoring numbers.

 

[Mrfenn92]

Time for him to go back to football I guess

 

[wetcoast]

Time for him to go back to football I guess

He probably projects quite well as a 3rd liner in the NHL but he still has work to do obviously.

I think he is behind development wise due to playing football and he might "catch up" or maybe that lost time is the difference in not making it.

 

[Captain Clutch]

Spellacy will absolutely play in the NHL, he's got ELITE wheels and in addition to being able to play 3rd or 4th line minutes, he could be an elite penalty killer. He's a bigger stronger Michael Grabner, who also had a nice NHL career of over 600 games. He's also a very high character, determined kid who is tough as nails.I wouldn't bet against him.

 

[HawksDub89]

He was never going to be an offensive guy.

His numbers aren’t great but offense isn’t his ticket to the NHL.

Elite speed, physicality and compete. He’s a 3rd/4th line PK specialist all the way.

Good size too.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

No Mario Kart for a week, AJ.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

He was never going to be an offensive guy.

His numbers aren’t great but offense isn’t his ticket to the NHL.

Elite speed, physicality and compete. He’s a 3rd/4th line PK specialist all the way.

Good size too.

Yeah. 15-25 point bottom 6er with elite wheels and decent physicality and is homegrown/cost controlled? Every team wants three of those guys lol.