Impressive Leddy likely to stay put

Blackhawks rookie defenseman Nick Leddy appeared in his ninth game Wednesday.

Once Leddy reaches 10 it counts as a year of service time against his contract, meaning he'll have two seasons remaining on his entry-level contract.

The 19-year-old Leddy has played well since his recall from Rockford last week, so it's not likely he will be going anywhere.

“I like his patience he plays with the puck and his reads in the game,” said Hawks coach Joel Quenneville. “He just looks like he understands his positioning. You just appreciate his reads and his poise out there for a young kid. You look at his upside and it's very bright. That pair has been real solid for us.”

Leddy and Jordan Hendry look to have settled down the Hawks' fifth and sixth defense spots. They got more than 15 minutes of ice time in their first games together against Ottawa and the Islanders.

“Whether it's north or south of that number, it's probably where you want it to be with them,” Quenneville said. “They add a little more puck possession and attack with our offensive game out of our zone.

If Leddy and Hendry continue to show they can play between 15-17 minutes a game, it will ease the workload for Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Brian Campbell and Niklas Hjalmarsson.

“It's nice to know it's a little more of a shared responsibility on the back end,” Quenneville said.

Comfort zone:

Patrick Kane has played with every center the Hawks have this season, but for him there's nothing like the comfort level of skating with Jonathan Toews.

With the Hawks' lines looking to be settled for now — although that can change in the blink of an eye with Joel Quenneville — Kane has been reunited with Toews, with positive results.

“I've been playing with him for four years so you're going to get comfortable with a guy like that,” Kane said.

“For myself and Johnny as far as chemistry is concerned, it's almost like we were kind of forced to have that chemistry right away when we both came in the league. We're a good match, and then you put (Troy) Brouwer there and he's a big body that can create a lot of space for us.”

Kane has also had good results playing with Patrick Sharp.

“No matter who it is, me and Sharpie have had some chemistry playing together; I played with (Dave) Bolland a handful of times,” Kane said. “I even had the chance to play with (Jake) Dowell and didn't mind that at all. He reminds me a little of Toews the way he plays.”