Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith was asked Tuesday how his conditioning was despite not playing in any preseason games while rehabilitating his injured right knee.
In response, Keith grabbed his belly fat, or lack thereof, and smiled.
"I feel good," Keith said. "Obviously, I haven't played a game, so it's going to be different."
Keith began acclimating to game speed again Tuesday night as the Hawks played the Red Wings in an exhibition at the United Center.
It was a welcome sign for the Hawks after Keith entered training camp unsure how long the injury would limit him. Keith said he plans to play in the Hawks' season opener next week against the Blues.
He said his knee "feels good" and he's not worried about how it will hold up over the course of the season.
"It's not something I can really look too far ahead and want to do the best I can in the immediate future," Keith said. "Right now it doesn't really affect me out there, so I just want to keep it that way."
Coach Joel Quenneville said Keith's injury "shouldn't be a problem" long term.
"We're progressing to where we're moving on, and he's going to be fresh," Quenneville said.
Keith had said the injury hampered his effectiveness at times last season after he had surgery in October to repair a torn meniscus.
"It's going to be just focusing on maintaining my health and doing everything I can to make sure I'm feeling as good as I can to play," Keith said. "I know it feels good. I've done a lot of rehab, and it feels good."
It's good news for the Hawks that Keith will be out there next week given they will be down a defenseman in Niklas Hjalmarsson, whom the NHL suspended Monday for the rest of the preseason and one regular-season game for a hit he leveled Saturday on the Blues' Ty Rattie.
The Hawks weren't much in the mood to discuss Hjalmarsson's suspension Tuesday.
"I said everything I had to say (Monday) in my hearing," Hjalmarsson said. "It's always disappointing to miss one regular-season game, but I'm glad Rattie is fine, and I said everything I had to say in the hearing (Monday). That's all I'm going to say about that."
When asked if he thought the punishment was fair, Quenneville said, "I don't want to comment on that."
But at least the Hawks should have Keith on the ice to help make up for Hjalmarsson's absence.
