NEED FOR SPEED

January 02, 2025

Welcome to Wolves Insider, presented by Are You Really Winning?: The weekly report that gives you an inside look at the latest Chicago Wolves news and happenings. Look for a new edition of Wolves Insider each week.

ROBIDAS ON THE FAST TRACK

When it comes to shots on goal, the Wolves are adept at both firing pucks on net and limiting the number sent toward their goaltenders.

The Wolves rank fifth in the American Hockey League with 31.37 shots on goal per game and second in shots against with 25.41 per contest.

On the offensive side of the ice, forward Justin Robidas paces the Wolves with 72 shots, including 30 over the course of the last eight games—seven of them victories.

“At the beginning of the year, I was trying to pass more first,” said Robidas, who unleashed nine shots on goal during the Wolves’ 5-4 win over the Milwaukee Admirals on Saturday night at Allstate Arena. “I like to pass, but my game is shooting the puck and when I get in a rhythm like that I feel that’s when I’m the most effective.”

The 21-year-old’s two goals Saturday night gave him eight for the season, pulling him into a tie with Noel Gunler for the team lead. Both scores came as the result of Robidas’ blazing speed.

“It’s been one of my strengths ever since I was a little kid,” Robidas said of his speed on the ice. “I try to use it as much as I can. It’s something you can work on in the summer and during the season.”

At 5-feet-8 inches and 180 pounds, Robidas knows his speed sets him apart on the ice.

“I’m not the toughest and the tallest guy so when I have those opportunities, I try to skate and use my speed.”

Robidas said he works closely with Wolves strength coach Jake Nitsche to increase his explosion to the puck and open areas and “it’s been paying off.”

“I do a lot of mobility stuff. Sometimes it’s weights, sometimes it’s just jumps and sprints—it depends on the day,” Robidas continued. “Jake knows exactly what to do and what days to lift and what days not to lift. It helps me a lot and it’s definitely fun to see those results on the ice that I’m fast enough for this league.”

BIG HITTER, THE LEGAULT

Despite scoring his first professional goal during the Wolves’ 4-1 victory over the Iowa Wild on Dec. 21, Charles-Alexis Legault doesn’t have visions of grandeur about becoming an offensive powerhouse.

Instead, the 21-year-old defenseman is content with focusing on sticking to his roles of keeping pucks out of the Wolves net while also being among the hardest hitters on the team.

“I want to be a guy who is hard to play against and one who is on the ice for more goals for our team than the other team,” said Legault, who ranks second on the team with a plus-9 plus/minus rating. “I pride myself on being a guy who defends hard, plays physical and does anything for the team.”

Included in that is using his 6-foot-3-inch, 208-pound frame to dish out some of the Wolves’ big hits on opponents this season.

“Something I take pride in just being a bigger guy and imposing my physical presence out there,” Legault said. “I never go for the big check, it kind of just comes. I usually just try to be physical and play the puck first and if the guy is there and I can finish it, then that’s a plus.”

The Laval, Quebec, native sites former Boston Bruins great Zdeno Chara, the St. Louis Blues’ Colton Parayko and the Carolina Hurricanes’ Jalen Chatfield and Jaccob Slavin as players with whom he patterns his game.

“They’re guys who are able to contribute on both sides of the puck,” Legault said.

With that in mind, Legault said he will continue to look for scoring chances but not at the expense of allowing them.

“You want to make sure you’re on the ‘D’ side of the puck and there’s nobody behind going on a breakaway,” Legault said. “You just have to read that and when you count numbers and you can go, let’s go.”

 

IMPACT PLAY OF THE WEEK

During Saturday night’s 5-4 victory over the Milwaukee Admirals, Riley Stillman converted off this terrific pass from Nikita Pavlychev to effectively put the game out of reach in the third period at Allstate Arena. It marked Stillman’s first goal of the season.

 

C.D.E. COLLISION CENTERS’ COLLISION OF THE WEEK

Wolves forward Nikita Pavlychev threw this hip check on the Admirals’ Ryder Rolston and then answered the bell by brawling with Mike O’Leary during Saturday’s game.

 

SAVE OF THE WEEK

With Saturday night’s contest knotted at 1-1 in the second period, Wolves goaltender Ruslan Khazheyev stoned the Admirals’ Ryder Rolston’s shot from the slot and then scrambled to keep the rebound out of the net.

Weekly rewind (1-1-0-0)

FRIDAY, DEC. 27

Admirals 4, Wolves 1: Despite holding a 44-18 shot advantage, the Wolves could only manage a late Ronan Seeley goal as Chicago also had its eight-game points streak halted.

SATURDAY, DEC. 28

Wolves 5, Admirals 4: Justin Robidas scored twice, Austin Wagner and Riley Stillman each had a goal and an assist and Skyler Brind’Amour also tallied as the Wolves earned a split of the home-and-home set with the Admirals.

First Star of the Week

Where we stand

15-10-2-0, third in the Central Division.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE