Chicago Blackhawks: Nick Leddy Has Questions to Answer in His Sophomore Season

The Chicago Blackhawks did some tinkering on the blue line this summer. As a result, the gauntlet has been tossed down at the feet of Nick Leddy.

Ready or not, it's time to start growing up in the NHL.

With Brian Campbell and Chris Campoli gone from last season's playoff roster, the need to replace the puck-moving abilities lost in the offseason is clear to see. It's also apparent that the 20-year-old Leddy will have to pick up his share of the slack.

Asking Leddy to take over Campbell's minutes and replace a veteran NHL defenseman may not be a realistic notion.  Not for a young player with just 46 NHL games under his belt.

However, the Leddy we see on the ice is going to have to be a more consistent version of the player we saw at defense in two separate stints for the Blackhawks in the 2010-11 campaign.  Sure, he'll still be learning on the job, but his margin for error has narrowed drastically in the last few weeks.

In a little over half a season with Chicago, Leddy had four goals and three assists. He was caught out of position on numerous occasions, but for a guy who had been playing at the University of Minnesota the year before, he showed 'Hawks management plenty of potential.

I still think Leddy would have been better off skating top-pair minutes in Rockford versus the 14 minutes a game he got in Chicago. The 'Hawks obviously thought otherwise as they struggled to find a solid third pairing. Debating the point is moot, as it looks like the team has cast their lot in Leddy playing a bigger role on this year's club.

Whether Leddy skates second or third-pair minutes this fall, more scoring is expected. He will have to get his shot off a bit more while still improving on his defensive responsibility.

Leddy did lead all Chicago defensemen with a 10.8 shooting percentage. Getting that shot off a bit more often isn't a lot to ask.  A 20-point season would help offset the offense lost this summer. How will Leddy handle the added pressure of scoring?

I would think Leddy would benefit pairing with Niklas Hjalmarsson or newcomer Sean O'Donnell.  Both players would help Leddy out on the defensive end. Regardless of the pairing, I would expect Leddy to see the ice for three or four additional shifts per game over last season.

It will be interesting to see how coach Joel Quenneville handles Leddy this season. Quenneville is tough on young defensemen and has veterans like O'Donnell, Steve Montador, and Sami Lepisto at his disposal now. How will that affect his patience with Leddy?

The success the Blackhawks have on the back end this coming season will hinge in part on Leddy's performance. How will he respond in what will be his first full season in the NHL?

On one hand, Leddy needs to use the lessons he learned on the job last year to raise his game in 2011-12. On the other hand, the kid will have an entire summer to work toward those expectations.