Blackhawks assign Leddy to Rockford

The Chicago Blackhawks announced on Sunday that they have assigned defenseman Nick Leddy to the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs.

Leddy, 19, made his National Hockey League debut on Oct. 7 in Colorado, becoming the youngest blueliner to appear in a Blackhawks season opener since 1999. He registered his first professional goal on Oct. 11 at Buffalo’s HSBC Arena Center and shares third on the team with ten blocked shots in the club’s first six tilts of the campaign.

Originally chosen with the 16th overall selection of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota Wild, Leddy was acquired by the Blackhawks in a trade on Feb. 12, 2010. The Eden Prairie, Minn., native, and 2009 Mr. Hockey Award winner in the state ranked second among team freshmen with 11 points (three goals, eight assists) and posted a plus-6 plus/minus rating in 30 games in his inaugural season at the University of Minnesota (WCHA) in 2009-10.