BUFFALO, N.Y. _ With the Feb. 25 trade deadline a little more than three weeks away, it's silly season in the NHL. But Duncan Keith isn't playing that game.
TSN's Pierre LeBrun said Thursday the Blackhawks will approach Keith this month about waiving his no-movement clause. Keith responded Friday that he hasn't been approached, and he wouldn't speculate on if he would accept a trade to a playoff contender.
"I'm not going to start getting into all that and create a bunch of stories about what I would do, speculate on how I would feel," Keith said. "Not getting into that."
Trading a legendary figure in Hawks history such as Keith would be a franchise-altering decision. He has won three Stanley Cups, two Norris Trophies and a Conn Smythe Trophy and has played the third-most games in a Hawks uniform after Stan Mikita and Brent Seabrook.
However, the Hawks are on track to miss the playoffs for a second straight season and could be interested in retooling their defense.
Despite being two years older than Seabrook, the 35-year-old Keith is viewed as a better trade option because he is still a top-four defenseman and has only four years and a $5.53 million salary-cap hit left on his contract. Seabrook, who also has a full no-movement clause, has five years remaining and a $6.875 million cap hit.
It's easy to see how Keith's reasonable contract and playoff experience would be attractive to a Stanley Cup contender. If the Hawks do approach Keith at some point about waiving the clause, he's not ready to say what he would do.
"I haven't thought about it," he said. "I like it here in Chicago, and nobody's mentioned anything to me."
