Chicago Blackhawks: What Duncan Keith means to this team

The Chicago Blackhawks have been so lucky to have number two on their side over the last decade-plus, but what does he mean to them now?

The Chicago Blackhawks struck gold when they drafted Duncan Keith with the 54th overall pick in the second round of the 2002 NHL Draft. Normally, a guy you take in the second round has a chance to be an NHL player but for them to go on to be the best defenseman in the league for a while and the most important defenseman in your franchise’s history almost never happens.

That is what happened with Keith out of Michigan State University. Keith was the best defenseman on a team that won the Stanley Cup three times in six seasons, a multiple-time Norris Trophy winner, and the 2015 Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the most valuable player of the playoffs. He is going to be remembered as one of the greatest players in franchise history.

His career is well decorated, but what does Keith mean to the team here in 2019? He is 35 years old and not the guy he once was. The good news is he is still capable of being a solid top-four guy on any team in the league. In 2018-19 he had 6 goals and 34 assists for 40 points. Not a bad season for a defenseman at all. He was also +13 on one of the worst defensive teams in the entire National Hockey League. So the “what have you done for me lately” question is answered in a positive manner as of right now.

If Keith can duplicate what he did in 2018-19 this upcoming season, the Blackhawks would really appreciate it. They have brought in some help on the blue line and should have a little better luck keeping the puck out of their own net. Some help defensively might even allow Keith to be on the attack more often again, but we will have to wait and see on that.

There is also a very real possibility that Keith is once again the best overall defenseman on this team even at 35 years old. The good news is there are better pieces around him. Keith is going to be a major piece on this team next year. If they make the playoffs, Keith will have had a good year. Keith had the lowest average time on ice of his career last year. His ice time of 23:01 was about two minutes less than his career average of 25:03 but he still led Blackhawks skaters in TOI and probably will again in 2019-20.

Duncan Keith is nowhere near where he was back in the day when he was consistently one of the best in the league at his position, but he is still very good and going to be very good for this team in the present. He might be one of those guys who if he stays healthy, can adapt to Father Time and play for at least a few more years if not more. He has shown the ability to adjust and accept his role, whatever that may be in the future. As of right now, he is still extremely important.