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Hawks will look at LeBlanc

What do the Blackhawks have planned for Drew LeBlanc, the St. Cloud State center they signed Friday for the rest of the season?

The 2013 Hobey Baker award winner as the top player in NCAA hockey is coming to practice with his new teammates and go from there, according to Hawks coach Joel Quenneville.

“We’ll see how it all goes,” Quenneville said. “Hopefully we’ll get a look at him in practices and see from there. I don’t want to say exactly the timetable and time frame with his play, but we’ll see.

“Congratulations to him on the signing and winning the Hobey Baker. It’s quite an achievement and we’re happy to have him organizationally.”

The 23-year-old LeBlanc is a fifth-year senior who led the nation in assists with 37 in 40 games. His 50 points ranked seventh. He was a two-year captain who led St. Cloud State to the Frozen Four.

According to the Hawks, they could only sign him for the rest of this season and he will be a restricted free agent this summer.

The 6-foot, 190-pound LeBlanc suffered a compound fracture of his leg in November of 2011 and missed the rest of the season, thus the five years at the college level. He is the third Hobey Baker winner to play for the Hawks, joining Bill Watson and Brendan Morrison.

Changed man:

Corey Crawford looked like a different goalie in Friday’s shootout win over Detroit than the one who couldn’t stop anything in the Hawks’ shootout loss to St. Louis on April 4.

Crawford stopped 4 of 5 attempts by the Red Wings, including Johan Franzen to end it.

“I felt a lot better,” Crawford said. “I did some video and I was moving a little bit too fast backwards and was out of control. I just slowed things down a little bit and was able to move side to side a little better.”

It was Crawford’s first start since that St. Louis game. Ray Emery had made the last three starts.

“I thought he was great,” Joel Quenneville said. “He looked big in the net, found pucks, moved well and looked excellent in the shootout as well.”

Blackhawks game day

Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center, 11:30 a.m.

TV: NBC; Radio: FM 97.9

The skinny: The Blues, 4-1 losers at Columbus on Friday, are sixth in the Western Conference with 48 points, 18 behind the Hawks. Blues coach Ken Hitchcock needs 1 more win for 600 in his career. St. Louis is still without goalie Jaroslav Halak (groin) and winger T.J. Oshie (foot). Corey Crawford is expected to start in goal for the Hawks against the Blues’ Brian Elliott.

Season series: Hawks lead 2-0-1.

Next: Dallas Stars at the United Center, 7 p.m. Monday

— Tim Sassone

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