Oliver Moore pleased with offseason, ready to make Blackhawks out of camp

Oliver Moore pulled up the Chicago Blackhawks’ internal app, Madhouse, and watched individual clips from his first nine NHL games a number of times this summer.

As he prepared for the upcoming season, Moore appreciated more and more those nine games he got to experience. They allowed him to figure out exactly where he needed to focus his attention throughout the last four-plus months. He could see in those clips how he was putting himself in the right places on the ice and could influence the games with his speed, but he also recognized that he was physically overmatched by opponents at times.

“Only nine games, but definitely a good sample size to see what I had to work on,” the 20-year-old Moore said Wednesday while attending the NHLPA Rookie Showcase in Alexandria, Va. “There’s definitely some patterns that showed up. I think one big thing was just getting strong. I think all those guys are so strong and big and getting really good below the dots and picking up rims, executing on plays. I think every little play matters when you’re on the puck and just execution, a ton of execution. I know I can get into the areas. It’s just about now just putting it away and having that mentality too. So, yeah, I had a really good summer in the gym and I’m looking forward to camp.”

Moore’s time in the gym has shown up on the scale. He now weighs 195 pounds after ending the season at 187. Maintaining that additional weight and learning how to best utilize it are still things Moore will have to figure out.

“I think (the weight will) help me for sure and try to keep my power and strength as well,” Moore said. “So, yeah, I think I’m in a good spot and obviously hockey shape’s different than anything once you get out there and play a game, but definitely feel like I put myself in a good position here.”

Moore is starting to feel like the season is upon him. He returned to Chicago earlier this week and moved into a hotel. He then flew out to the NHLPA Rookie Showcase. Next week, he’ll join other Blackhawks players on the ice in preparation for the Tom Kurvers Prospects Showcase in Minnesota. The following week will bring the start of NHL training camp.

Oliver Moore has zero goals and four assists in his first nine NHL games. (Charles LeClaire / USA Today via Imagn Images)

While Moore officially moved on from college when he decided to turn pro in April, that change became apparent when his hockey friends returned to school and he didn’t.

“I’m excited to watch them this year, but it is weird,” he said. “I’m not doing a class this year or anything, so it’s my first year since I can remember that I’m not in school. It’s different, for sure. I guess hockey’s like school now. It’s like your job.”

Where Moore starts his job this season will be one of the major questions during training camp. Moore held his own in his first nine NHL games, but his play didn’t make a definitive statement that he was ready to be a full-time NHLer. It wouldn’t be surprising if Moore started his season in the NHL or was assigned to the Rockford IceHogs.

Internally, the Blackhawks think it’s possible Moore could make the team, but they also aren’t worried if they think he needs time in the AHL. Frank Nazar was in a similar position last season. He was sent to Rockford after a so-so training camp, flourished with the IceHogs, was arguably the Blackhawks’ best player by the end of the season and was recently rewarded with a seven-year contract that carries a $6,599,991 cap hit. 

Moore has been compared a number of times in recent years to Nazar, with both having played for the U.S. National Team Development Program, both going to Big Ten hockey programs, both being speedy centers and both being Blackhawks’ first-round draft picks. It’s easy even now to continue to create connections, but Moore prefers to concentrate on himself.

“I think I definitely want to just focus on my own path,” Moore said. “I think everyone’s unique and different, but seeing how he did it last year, I think it’s cool to see that. You know, you just play your game, you focus on what you can control and things usually work out for you. And whatever that may be for me this year, I think it’s good. It’s definitely a good learning lesson that you can learn from guys like that, to see it works out either way. Just play your game and believe in yourself. And I think that’s what he did so well, but he continues to do well.”

Moore knows going to Rockford wouldn’t be the end of the world, but that’s not his goal heading into camp.

“I want to play for the Chicago Blackhawks this year, and I’m willing to do a lot to be able to do that,” he said. “So I think that’s definitely my main focus, and it’s been a big motivation for me this summer.”

Over the summer, Moore received a call from new Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill and said he liked what he heard about Blashill’s values and wanting to play winning hockey.

Moore also joined a group of Blackhawks who were invited out to teammate Nick Foligno’s summer home.

“That was unbelievable,” Moore said. “I think I saw Frankie (Nazar) said that was the highlight of his summer. I put that right up there for me, too. (Foligno’s) obviously a great human being, and having him do that, he didn’t have to do any of that, but having him reach out to us, and that whole experience at the cabin there was awesome. I felt like I got to know the guys even more just away from the rink, and that’s something you want to do as much as possible, just feel more comfortable. I spent a lot of time on the lake outside and fishing, learned a little bit of fishing there. He helped me out. But, yeah, it was an awesome experience.”

(Top photo: David Kirouac / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)