[A] Blackhawks Sign Drew LeBlanc

[bookjones]

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Better lock him up quick before he trips and falls into Dales lap.</p>
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I thought Tallon Cat was waiting to get Beach and Lalonde back this summer. </p>

 

[PatrickShart]

I heard DT is going to offer him 4mil next year


That'll be cool since all the 'hawk fans' that jumped ship to become FLA fans will be stoked getting another former Hawk

 

[Variable]

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[Chief Walking Stick]

Hey PMX how has your boy LeBlanc done for the Hawks so far?</p>

 

[PatrickShart]

I like him better than Bolland already.</p>


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Hawks have never lost a game since signing him.</p>


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Plus...he doesn't get into fights...so the pussies will be happy.  As long as he learns to play concussed.</p>

 

[bookjones]

Podcast part about LeBlanc begins aroud 3:30 until about 9:30.</p>


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http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=666537</p>


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FULL 24 Mins Podcast (Hogs convo begins at 15:30 and runs until the end):   http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/podcastplayer.htm?pid=27&iid=42692</p>

 

[WiHawksFan]

LeBlanc practicing on the second line today with Sharp and Kane. Starting tonights game?!?!?!</p>

 

[bookjones]

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LeBlanc practicing on the second line today with Sharp and Kane. Starting tonights game?!?!?!</p>
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Ooh. . .thanks for the scoop! Hopefully we can finally see a little non-NCAA sampling. </p>

 

[WiHawksFan]

It's official...he's going to play in his first NHL game tonight.</p>


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Hopefully he's good enough to take Bolland's place next year. :icon-smile:</p>

 

[bookjones]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="WiHawksFan" data-cid="192637" data-time="1366828012">
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It's official...he's going to play in his first NHL game tonight.</p>


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Hopefully he's good enough to take Bolland's place next year. :icon-smile:</p>
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Him or Pirri---from your fingertips to the hockey gods ears!</p>

 

[MassHavoc]

with Sharp eeehh.... at least it's a nice storyline to watch for tonight... maybe I missed him last game but Sharpie back? Very interesting. I hope this kid shows something... would be great to get him signed and have him solidify the position.</p>

 

[WiHawksFan]

That would be great...even though it's wishful thinking.</p>

 

[Ton]

The only thing that sucks about him playing well is the fact that he can't play in the playoffs.</p>

 

[MassHavoc]

don't seem to have to worry about it yet. haha

 

[Samurai]

I was optimistically impressed.</p>

 

[winos5]

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I was optimistically impressed.</p>
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After starting out slow and looking lost in the 1st period I thought he was much better, particularly in the 3rd period.</p>

 

[PatrickShart]

Tough game to jump right into with it being a "speed" team to play against.  Not only the nerves but the jump from NCAA to NHL speed had to be tough for the kid.  And it's not like it was the beginning of the season...towards the end like this it's even tougher.</p>


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His spacing looked off at times (to be expected)...but I thought he was very good in the offensive zone (natural instincts).  He was always around the puck (very good puck support) and didn't "panic" when he had the puck on his stick.</p>


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I think once the game slows down for him...he can be very good.  He appeared to be a very smart player with some of the passes he made...and showed some very good hands with a few of his shots (the one from Kane was very good).</p>

 

[MassHavoc]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="winos5" data-cid="192737" data-time="1366898768">
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After starting out slow and looking lost in the 1st period I thought he was much better, particularly in the 3rd period.</p>
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I would have to agree with this, I was worried after the first goal that he wouldn't be let back on the ice again, but lucky for him he was and seemed to make the most of it.</p>

 

[EspoForever]

I thought he looked like he had a lot of offensive upside last night, albeit against a poor defensive team and he did not finish any plays. (Clearly a small sample size.)


After we signed this guy I went on HockeyStreams.com and looked at his semi final game and did notice that he pretty badly lost his check and cost St. Cloud a goal in that game as well. I am thinking this guy has potential but is not ready for the NHL just yet unless we want someone Who is a scoring threat at both ends of the ice.


So good game, but I am not thinking we should hand him the 2nd line center reins just yet. We need to see more and he needs to work on D too I think.

 

[Ton]

He looked brutal in the first half of the game, like he was way out of his league, at both ends of the ice. The last half of the game was much improved, I think we all saw the potential of his offensive game during the last half. Another thing I thought while watching him was that he really needed to improve his foot speed, and keep his feet moving, throughout the entire game.</p>


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That said, it's pretty obvious that everyone on the Hawks were trying to feed him his first NHL goal... so I'm not sure I would say the puck was following him, I saw it as if they were just forcing plays to him so he could get an opportunity, most of the time the puck was stripped from him but he did get a few shots off (one of them was a really good chance, just lacked finish). In the third period, I thought he showed he had a good sense of vision and playmaking ability.</p>


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Too small of a sample size to really judge him, but he was OK after he settled in.</p>


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On another note: Handzus had three assists last night... I think they should give him another game between Sharp and Kane.</p>