HawkWriter
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It is an interesting move... I saw this elsewhere!
Two red flags for me, though: This "hot prospect" is already 23 and why is it only a 1 year contract?
It sounds good on paper, but I have some serious doubts to it actually coming to fruition.
Two red flags for me, though: This "hot prospect" is already 23 and why is it only a 1 year contract?
It sounds good on paper, but I have some serious doubts to it actually coming to fruition.
HawkWriter
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Can only sign him to a one year deal (due to age I believe) and he will be a RFA. He had a real bad injury last year but came back in a big way. A playmaking center, should be interesting to see how he does.
Some guys are just late bloomers. Justin Schultz was just recently signed as a free agent after not being drafted and he is playing well for the Oilers.
Could be a good one and it doesn't cost the Blackhawks anything but cash. Low risk, high reward potential.
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The shitty part is he can't play in playoffs. He is just a warm body to get us through the year. I hope we keep him next year.
HawkWriter
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They essentially paid for his rights. He is making $1.48mil this year (pro-rated) and could only be signed to a 1 year contract because of his age. No way will he be making $1.48mil with his next contract but it was a smart move to just get his rights. He will be a RFA at the end of this year so I would fully assume he will be signed to another contract by the Blackhawks.
HawkWriter
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LeBlanc is supposed to be making his debut tonight against the Oilers. Should be interesting to see how he does. The only knock I have seen on him is potentially foot speed.
The Bringer
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LeBlanc looked great tonight. He was faster then I thought and made some great passes and moves with the puck. He is a keeper!
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I didn't know who the hell this guy was until I saw this thread (a few days ago), and I didn't know if he would make any difference at all until last night. I thought he did pretty good for a rookie playing his first NHL game, and he also showed some potential to fill a niche that the Blackhawks seem to be somewhat lacking in- namely talented centers.
They have a lot of talented wingers, are pretty well stocked for dependable D-men, it's just having enough good centers seems to be a problem for them.
They have a lot of talented wingers, are pretty well stocked for dependable D-men, it's just having enough good centers seems to be a problem for them.
KBIB
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Um...theres a huge difference in talent between Schultz and LeBlah.
LeBlah had a decent game against the Oilers, but he isn't nothing more then AHL depth.
Creme
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No kidding there is, I certainly didn't say or imply otherwise...but I was simply throwing out another player who was a college free agent (even though he was previously drafted). Toss Danny Dekeyser onto that list of college free agents as well.
At the end of the day though, it was a pretty smart move by the Blackhawks to get a Hobey Baker winner for cash. They retain his rights at the end of the year and I fully suspect he'll be in the AHL next year, but he is a solid prospect for the Blackhawks at this point. Centers of Pirri, LeBlanc, McNeill, and Danault down with Rockford is starting to look pretty good.
KBIB
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Solid? Prospect? He is 23, and will be taking time away from actual prospects in Danault and McNeil. Pirri has nothing left to prove in the Rock, its either NHL or bust at this point even if it isn't with the Hawks.
LeBlah is an AHL'er, nothing more unless he suddenly turns into Gretzky in his three game trial and makes it impossible for Bowman to deny him a NHL roster spot next year...this with Pirri who just led the AHL in scoring.
Roster filler is more like it.
Creme
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I don't know how you can dismiss a Hobey Baker winner like this. There are plenty of players that went un-drafted and then made a very nice career for themselves in the NHL. Plenty of players that didn't come into the league until 23+ and then had nice careers for themselves. Not every player is ready at 18 or completely blossomed by then. No one is saying he is a sure fire thing, very far from it, but it is a nice signing and has potential. As of right now, absolutely LeBlanc is an AHL'er but he has a future ahead of him and Blackhawks fans should be excited about the signing. I doubt he starts with the Blackhawks next year, but he is a nice prospect for the AHL team and adds some more depth to the center position (a position that the Blackhawks have struggled with). All this and all it did was cost the Blackhawks cash to get him.
KBIB
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Easy. Look at the list of HB winners. Itsa just an award and has no bearing on how good a player they will be in the NHL. I mean, if the handful of great players who also won the award in its history isn't some sort of barometer in itself. I wont even mention how the two biggest names on that list, Kariya and Miller, won the award in either their draft year(Kariya) or after they were drafted (Miller). Useless award is just that.
Sort of a pack peddle but basically on point, with the exception that LeBlah is anything more then an AHL'er. The AHL has been saturated with previous Hobey Baker winners over the years. Will he become an NHL'er? Who knows. But guestimating he is an AHL AS is more in tune with his skill set.
If he was anything special, he would have been drafted. In this day and age players just don't fall thru the cracks as easily as they did even five years ago.
Creme
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^^^ We'll just have to agree to disagree. In no way does "Hobey Baker Award" mean that the player is going to be a star in the NHL, but it does mean something - even if that player was drafted or not. Took a look back at the last 5+ Hobey Baker winners and I see plenty of undrafted guys (makes sense as it often goes to a Senior) and plenty of guys playing in the NHL.
I consider LeBlanc a solid center prospect for the Blackhawks.
I consider LeBlanc a solid center prospect for the Blackhawks.
HawkWriter
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Happy Human 1001
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May 3 -19 for this International tourney, so I guess the Blackhawks don't see needing him for depth in the playoffs.
HawkWriter
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I don't believe they can use him in the playoffs because of when he was signed. Atleast he gets some quality ice time this way.
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