NHL: Is Nick Leddy up With the Chicago Blackhawks For Good?

The Chicago Blackhawks capped a big weekend Sunday night with a rare blowout victory over the visiting New York Islanders.  The 5-0 win was a nice momentum builder for the stars of the club, who came out to shine with some big offensive production.

However, the Hawks are facing a decision on the blue line this week.

Rookie defenseman Nick Leddy was called up on Friday to take the place of Jassen Cullimore, who was sent down to Rockford of the AHL a day earlier.  Leddy skated with Jordan Hendry both Friday against Ottawa and Sunday against the Islanders.  The pair logged over 15 minutes of ice time both nights.

Are the Blackhawks evaluating Leddy in this stint, or have the Blackhawks decided that the 19-year-old prospect is ready to play at the NHL level every night?  We will find out soon enough.

Leddy has played eight games this season with Chicago, having played in the first six before giving way to Cullimore.  If Leddy plays in another game after Wednesday's tilt with Colorado, the Hawks will be unable to roll over his entry contract to next season.

Leddy encountered problems in the defensive zone this weekend.  He committed a turnover early in the Islander game that led to a breakaway attempt, but Corey Crawford handled the shot.  Leddy definitely benefited from line mate Jordan Hendry, who has played pretty well since finally getting a shot on defense this week.

Will Wednesday night's game with the Avalanche be Leddy's chance to make the team for the rest of the season?  Here are my thoughts.

Leddy's cap hit is more than twice that of Cullimore, Hendry or Nick Boynton (who hasn't been missed).  Keeping Leddy up with the Hawks doesn't make adding a player via trade any easier.

If Leddy is going to remain with the club, he needs to play every night.  Joel Quenneville had praise for his newest defenseman after his first game back, but if Leddy is going to be a scratch on a regular basis (like Hendry was for the bulk of the first three months), he needs to be in Rockford.

Chicago's decision on Leddy should be clear by Jan. 12, the morning after his ninth game.  If GM Stan Bowman is the executive he has shown to be over the past two seasons, Leddy will immediately be sent down to save precious cap dollars.  If Leddy is around for next weekend's action, he will be up for the season.

(Barring injury, I don't see Cullimore being recalled to Chicago.  The 38-year-old veteran may have played his last NHL game.  Tip of the cap to him.  His 812 NHL appearances is a decent career, and he played hard when called upon.  Wish it was Boynton who had cleared waivers and was donning an Ice Hogs sweater.)

The other possible scenario is that Leddy stays up for a week or two until a deal for a veteran defenseman can be made.  To me, that would be a gaffe of Tallon-like proportions.  The damage could be a couple million dollars if they end up losing a potential year of Leddy's entry deal.

To me, Leddy playing NHL hockey next week means that Bowman and Quenneville feel that he is a better option right now for the team than Cullimore or Boynton.  Leddy is far from a finished product, but the Blackhawks will be content to let him learn the ropes 15 minutes at a time.

The Hawks have a decision to make on Thursday.

They need to be sure about that decision.