Duncan Keith did not get all the glory of the recent Chicago Blackhawks dynasty like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. He was part of the big three on those 3 Stanley Cups the Blackhawks hoisted from 2010 through 2015. You’ve heard of the saying, “flip the script.” Keith flipped the ice on defense not only to clear the puck but to set up the offense and all the weapons the Blackhawks had back then. He was an iron man, a pillar each game & he hardly ever left the ice. He ran the power play like a quarterback. He killed off penalties like a bomb technician. Most importantly he was the last line of defense for the goalie throwing himself in front of 1,896 shots from a puck that can hit speeds of 90 MPH. When you lose ten teeth in a Stanley Cup finals game, most players would call it a night. Keith got back on the ice after looking like he spit out his teeth like spitting out a bad box of Chiclets. He earned the nickname Duncan “Teeth” and throughout 17 seasons he showed the hockey world why he was one of the best defensemen in the game.
Duncan Keith was originally drafted in the second round of the 2002 NHL draft 54th overall by the Blackhawks. He played 16 seasons wearing the Indian Head sweater. He closed out his career in Canada, the lone season he played for the Edmonton Oilers. He scored 106 goals and dished out 540 assists for 646 points in regular season. He played in 1,192 NHL regular season games which came out to 33,495 minutes and 55 seconds. That tells you he hardly came off the ice. He only missed a handful of games in his entire career. Keith was a 3x All-Star. He was a 2x winner of the Norris trophy which is for the league’s top notch defenseman of the year. He won the Conn Smythe trophy in 2014 & ’15 which was MVP in the playoffs those years. He helped his native country of Canada win two gold medals as well. He was named one of the 100 greatest players on the 100th year anniversary of the NHL in 2017. Keith has made his mark as one of the best all-time defensemen with the Blackhawks. He is first with most games played in regular season. He is number two all-time in Blackhawks history with assists and points by a defenseman. He is number three in goals as a defender. His post-season stats were solid. Keith leads all Blackhawks defensemen in 135 post-season games played all-time and 68 assists and 86 points. He is 4th all-time in Blackhawks history with 18 post-season goals as a defender.
Duncan Keith had the hockey smile of missing teeth. His parade speech in 2010 will always be a memory for me when he came up to the microphone and asked the Blackhawks nation: “Anybody know a good dentist?”
Duncan Keith is from Winnipeg, Manitoba & will be the 48th player wearing the Indian Head sweater to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Keith was only 6’1″ tall but he played defense like he was much bigger. He always showed physical dominance around the net. He established his territory on the ice which was between the red and blue line on the ice. He was a master at steering the opponents to the outside because he had quick feet along with a quick stick. He prevented breakaways which have haunted most goalies in their career. He may have been playing on a half a tank his last few years in the NHL. Most of his career he was a guy that you can count on as he showed he was one of the main engine parts of that Blackhawks dynasty. Keith becomes the second player from that dynasty to be elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Marian Hossa was the first as he played a pivotal role on that dynasty, but he had a decorated career when he signed with Chicago as a free agent. Keith was drafted around the same time as Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews as the Blackhawks were assembling a young core of superstars. Before these guys were drafted, the Blackhawks were one of the worst franchises in sports. The front office and more importantly the ownership got their act together and rode the coat tails of all the young talent they got from being very bad for years and years. Seems like the black clouds are back following one of the original six franchises which the Blackhawks are, but things have been looking up. In the meantime how time goes by like a blur, it seems like yesterday Chicago was spoiled with playoff hockey every year and this core getting this team deep into the Stanley Cup playoffs. During questionable times, we get to reflect on remembering all the good memories guys like Duncan Keith gave the city of Chicago and the Blackhawks nation. It’s on my bucket list to go see the Hockey Hall of Fame as I have done both baseball and football. To see all those great Blackhawks players enshrined would be something special. Right now we have to congratulate number 2, Duncan Keith. I’m sure the jersey retirement is being scheduled sometime soon with more to come from others from that dynasty where more celebrations will be had. In Chicago we always love our defenses. Duncan Keith was a guy that brought his lunch pail to the job everyday. He practiced his craft everyday and showed his talent for denying the opposing teams from lighting the lamp. He did it night after night against the best in the game. His play will always be priceless for what he did on the ice and being a solid guy off the ice. That’s why he is a first ballot hockey hall of famer.
The Wild shamrock 