Blackhawks and Oilers Are “Closing In” on a Duncan Keith Trade (UPDATE: Looks Like It’s Happening)
We’ve been talking about it for a few weeks now, but apparently we are closer than ever to a trade involving Chicago Blackhawks legend Duncan Keith.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Chicago and the Edmonton Oilers made progress over the weekend on a deal that would send Keith to Edmonton.
Hearing today that CHI/EDM are closing in on the Duncan Keith deal. May take time, but progress in the weekend
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 12, 2021
Keith, who turns 38-years-old on Friday, has two years left on his current contract with Blackhawks, but has asked for a trade this offseason to be closer to his family in British Columbia.
It's pretty remarkable how the idea of trading Duncan Keith went from unthinkable to inevitable to acceptable in such a short amount of time.
It's a testament to the goodwill Keith has built up in Chicago that nobody seems to begrudge him wanting to move closer to his son.
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) July 12, 2021
Keith has played the second-most games of all-time for the Chicago Blackhawks, was a key member of three Stanley Cup-winning teams, a Conn Smythe winner in 2015, and a two-time Norris Trophy winner in 2010 and 2104, the same years he also won Olympic Gold Medals with Team Canada. He’s a sure-fire Hockey Hall of Famer and it will be incredibly sad to see him not be able to end his career with the Blackhawks.
And as we are writing this, Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli is giving us more details to a potential deal that seems like it will be completed at some point today, at this pace.
Pending trade call, sounds like #Hawks Duncan Keith will indeed be heading to #Oilers in exchange for D Caleb Jones and a mid-round pick (3rd or 4th round).
Final details still being ironed out. @DFOHockey
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 12, 2021
Depending on what happens in the deal (i.e. salary-retention) the Blackhawks will be able to give Keith his wish of playing close to home and on a team that will likely contend for the Stanley Cup over the remaining two years of his deal, as well as gain salary-cap space and a young defenseman in Caleb Jones who could get an opportunity in Chicago’s rotation that he didn’t have with the Oilers. This could also open the door for the Blackhawks to go after a top-tier defenseman this offseason like Seth Jones (Caleb’s brother) or Dougie Hamilton.
UPDATE: Hey, news happens fast right?
Duncan Keith for Caleb Jones and a 3rd round pick.
— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) July 12, 2021
Still awaiting official word on the deal, but as more details emerge, it appears that Chicago may have gotten the better end in this deal. Stay tuned.
We’ll keep up with this as news breaks.
