Duncan Keith’s legendary run with the Blackhawks — three Stanley Cups, two Norris Trophies and nearly 1,200 games played — is over.
But by trading Keith to the Oilers on Monday, the Hawks positioned themselves very well to upgrade their defense in the post-Keith era.
The Hawks received young defenseman Caleb Jones and a conditional 2022 third-round draft pick, and didn’t have to retain any of Keith’s $5.5 million cap hit for the remaining two seasons of his contract.
The Hawks also sent AHL forward Tim Soderlund to the Oilers in the Keith trade while acquiring AHL forward Liam Folkes in a separate trade between Rockford and Bakersfield, the two teams’ affiliates.
“Recently, Duncan came to us with a request to be traded to a team closer to his son,” Hawks general manager Stan Bowman said in a statement. “We were happy to work something out that was mutually beneficial for Duncan’s family and the future of the Blackhawks.”
Keith, who turns 38 later this month, had a no-movement clause in his contract and used that leverage to facilitate a trade specifically to Western Canada.
His family and 8-year-old son Colton live in Penticton, British Columbia, and he was able to visit them only once in a five-month span last season due to U.S.-Canada border restrictions.
“The Chicago Blackhawks are always going to be in my heart,” Keith said Monday. “At this point in my career, being closer to my son...was a huge thing for me. The Oilers I felt like were a great fit, and I’m excited to start this new chapter of my career and try to win a Cup in Edmonton.”
The trade gives the Hawks much more money, flexibility and available minutes to pursue one of the offseason’s two elite available defensemen: Seth Jones and Dougie Hamilton. Even outside of those implications, however, the Hawks came out far ahead.
Caleb Jones, Seth’s 24-year-old younger brother, is a solid up-and-coming defenseman in his own right. He played 93 games over the past three seasons with the Oilers, including 33 games — in which he averaged 13:36 ice time per game and tallied four assists — this past season. He’s currently a third-pairing guy who could grow in a larger role.
“Jones is a smooth skating, versatile defenseman who brings a well-rounded game to the Blackhawks,” Bowman said in another statement. “Caleb transitions the puck nicely with his legs or through outlet passes... We believe his best hockey is in front of him.”
Moving Soderlund, a low-value 23-year-old prospect who scored only five points in the AHL last season, gives the Hawks more flexibility under the 50-contract limit.
And for the expansion draft, the Hawks will no longer be required to protect Keith. Among the defensemen, they’ll now protect Connor Murphy and two of three out of Jones, Nikita Zadorov and Riley Stillman.
Keith’s No. 2 jersey will almost certainly be retired by the Hawks in future years, and he will go down as one of the best defensemen in franchise history. But his increasing age and declining play became noticeable in recent seasons, even as he continued to lead the team in minutes per game.
His departure continues a year in which many key people in the Cup dynasty era — from Corey Crawford to Brent Seabrook, Brandon Saad to Andrew Shaw, plus team president John McDonough — have also retired or left the franchise.
“It’s tough to leave Chicago,” Keith said. “It’s a great organization and we were always treated first-class as players. [I] was really part of a transformation of that team and I just feel grateful to have been a part of it... The last few years were a little tougher, but sometimes you need those tough times to appreciate the good times.”
Keith was asked the Hawks’ alleged 2010 sexual assault cover-up but said he’d “rather not get into anything like that,” adding it was “tough to...hear” about.
