Chicago Blackhawks: Three trade packages for Duncan Keith

Normally, the Chicago Blackhawks and Colorado Avalanche shouldn’t make trades. They are going to be competing against each other in the Central Division which is a problem but over the next handful of years, the Hawks are going to finish well behind the Avalanche in the standings. They are going to be Stanley Cup contenders for a long time while the Hawks try to rebuild this thing. Roles are reversed from a few years ago when the Hawks had a chance at the Cup and the Avs were bottom feeders.

Now, if you added Keith to the Avalanche blue line. They already have a loaded group there with Cale Makar leading the way and Bown Byram waiting in the wings. It would be nice for them to have an experienced veteran and future Hall of Famer there to help them. Keith has done it all in his career as a defenseman and would really help those young studs take it to the next level.

As for the Hawks in this deal, they would be shedding Keith’s entire cap hit. The Avalanche somehow, despite being a Cup contender, has one of the lowest payrolls in all of hockey. They can absolutely take on Keith’s deal and give up draft picks to do it. The Avalance wants to be picking 31st (soon to be 32nd) in rounds going forward so giving the Hawks a third and a fifth won’t hurt them in the short term at all.

In a deal like this, the Hawks get payroll flexibility along with some draft assets. For the Avalanche, they are getting a guy who has the experience needed to help lead them to the promised land along with some good hockey still left in him.