Hawks will give Leddy first taste of NHL tonight

DENVER — Nick Leddy knows tonight's season opener at Colorado won't be just another game for him.

Instead of spending the day going to classes at the University of Minnesota, the 19-year-old Leddy will be making his NHL debut on defense for the Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks against the Avalanche.

“I don't think I'll be taking a nap today, Leddy said following the morning skate at the Pepsi Center.

“It's obviously going to be a special moment. I guess there's a little pressure, but we've got a lot of great defensemen here so I think it will be fine.

Leddy is expected to start with Niklas Hjalmarsson as his partner and see considerable minutes.

“We'll keep an eye on him, Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “We've got some guys that have been in those shoes recently that can share in the experience as well.

“It's a delicate position to enter as a young kid on defense, but he's earned the right and opportunity based on how he's played. He looks like he belongs out on the ice when he's playing in games. We'll keep an eye on him, how he's fitting in, but it looks like he's got no problem doing it.

One thing Leddy has to prepare for is the added intensity on the ice now that it's the regular season as opposed to the preseason.

“Certainly the pace is going to be a lot faster and it's going to be more intense, Quenneville said. “We've got several games, which we do over a stretch of time, we'll see how he handles it, but he's probably going to get reasonable minutes right off the bat here.

Leddy had every intention of returning to Minnesota for his sophomore year before coming to prospects camp in July and turning heads with his play. He carried it over into training camp and won a job, thanks largely to Brian Campbell going down with a sprained right knee.

“He reminds me of Soupy back there, Patrick Kane said. “He makes good passes and he has a nice hard shot.

Quenneville has the same lines together at the morning skate: Kopecky – Toews – Hossa; Pisani – Sharp – Kane; Bickell – Bolland – Brouwer; Stalberg – Dowell - Skille.

Ÿ Tim Sassone will have more on the Blackhawks from Denver later today and in Friday's Daily Herald. You can follow his Hawks report via Twitter@TimSassone and his blog at dailyherald.com.