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Fortin, Blackhawks come to terms

As the NHL gets away from big, bruising bodies that used to occupy plenty of seats on game-day benches, we're learning one undisputable fact: Speed kills.

Fans need look no further than Pittsburgh, last year's Stanley Cup champions, for evidence of that.

"If you watch the Penguins through the playoffs last year … every line was flying all the time," said Blackhawks winger Vincent Hinostroza on Saturday. "They really wear down teams by getting pucks behind them. … Speed's a huge factor in the game today."

The Hawks saw plenty of that and more out of 19-year-old free agent Alexandre Fortin, so general manager Stan Bowman rewarded the Quebec native with a three-year, entry-level contract Sunday.

The 6-foot, 172-pound winger has shined every step of the way since the Hawks invited him to prospects camp in July. In addition to obvious speed, Fortin also has quick hands and an uncanny knack of setting up teammates for perfect scoring chances.

"He's been very consistent in every scrimmage," said assistant coach Mike Kitchen. "He's been a threat to score out on the ice. I think he's done a terrific job.

"He's got to be very, very happy about the whole situation."

There's no doubt about that.

"It's just step one and very exciting for the future," said Fortin, who had 43 points (19G, 24A) in 54 games last season playing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. "But it's amazing. I have to thank the Chicago Blackhawks. It's the first team that really believe in me, so it's awesome."

Fortin was not chosen in either of the last two drafts, and he said Saturday he wanted to show the league everyone made a mistake by passing him up.

Coaches now must decide how much action to give the up-and-coming winger in the preseason, with the first opportunity coming Wednesday at the United Center against Pittsburgh.

If he doesn't make the Blackhawks out of camp - which is the most likely scenario - he will be reassigned to his junior team.

Not that he's resigned to that fate.

"I mean, you are not here and say, 'Oh, I just want to come back later, next year,' " Fortin said. "No, it's 'I'm here and I want to stay here as long as I can, for sure.' "

Keith off to good start:

Assistant coach Mike Kitchen said Duncan Keith (knee) felt fine after the first two days of training camp. After practice Sunday, Keith joked to Kitchen that it seemed like the forwards had the day off.

"Today was a little tougher day for defensemen, so we were asking a lot of them," Kitchen said. "There was a lot of 1-on-1, 2-on-1s, 2-on-2s."

Despite the quip, Keith asked if he could come back out for the second practice, but the coaches told the 33-year-old defenseman no.

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