After going scoreless in his first three NHL games, rookie forward Alexandre Fortin has two goals and an assist over his last four and is more than earning his spot in the Blackhawks lineup.
The 21-year-old has bounced around lines as coach Joel Quenneville seeks the right mix of speed on all four lines. After initially playing with Patrick Kane and Nick Schmaltz, Fortin dropped to the fourth line before moving to the third the last two games with Schmaltz and Luke Johnson.
Quenneville wants as much speed in the lineup as he can find but understands Fortin needs to improve his defensive awareness.
"(Defense) is a work in progress, but it's been a good start for him," Quenneville said. "It's been a positive beginning because his speed has definitely been a big factor."
