Tyler Cameron: Why keeping Duncan Keith around is paramount to Blackhawks future success I have been thinking about this blog for some time now because while Keith's accomplishments above at extremely impressive and will forever be etched in Blackhawks history, it's his influence now at age 36 (soon-to-be 37) that will live on for years, possibly decades to come with the next wave of Hawks younger players.

I think he'd be great to keep around

I think he'd be great to keep around
- BetweenTheDots

They say his work ethic is outstanding

Tyler Cameron: Why keeping Duncan Keith around is paramount to Blackhawks future success
I have been thinking about this blog for some time now because while Keith's accomplishments above at extremely impressive and will forever be etched in Blackhawks history, it's his influence now at age 36 (soon-to-be 37) that will live on for years, possibly decades to come with the next wave of Hawks younger players.
- Tyler Cameron

Love this blog Tyler. And although Duncan has slowed down noticeably, he is still an asset as you mentioned.

With all the young guys coming up, Duncan is a MUST keep. Simply put....what are you gonna get for 5.5 million that is any better? I mean, nobody knows what salaries will be like when we return, and there may be guys we can get at discount if the Cap is flat or worse. But, when you factor in his pedigree, his leadership, his reasonably Cap hit, and the fact he can slowly begin to ease off his responsibilities as the young guns grow. Duncan is a "Keeper" unless some team offers up a nice little package for him. Moving him just to move him, makes little sense to me.

Great write-up fella!!!

I drink Coke .Keith is a great player .I was not so sure about mentor after the development league comment .Seebs although lost a step or two seemed to me to be the bigger mentor of the two. Would you trade Keith for Florida 1st pick 13th this year and a prospect .Deep draft . Just asking from the crazy side ..

Keeping Keith is fine. Limiting his minutes during the regular season so he has gas int he tank for the playoffs would be cool. He is still a very effective player. Probably not a Norris winner at this point but a guy most teams would find room for. I think it is a guy you need a veteran coach to get the most out of.

Sounds like he has helped some of the younger guys realize how much gym time it takes to play at a high level so that's a plus. I think they have a good group of younger players on the blue line, even though they're smaller, and just that influx if they make some room (move on from Maatta, Seeler, Koekkoek since those are somewhat realistic).

Its not a Toews blog but with Dach and Strome eating 15-20 minutes each you can keep Toews around 19 to get the most out of him as well, especially if this is a compressed season having a natural centers with talent will be a thing. Assuming the coach isn't a moron... They could at least not suck.

Watching Bundesliga since it is all that's on. Really underrated league. Mönchengladbach v Leverkusen is a big game.

I drink Coke .Keith is a great player .I was not so sure about mentor after the development league comment .Seebs although lost a step or two seemed to me to be the bigger mentor of the two. Would you trade Keith for Florida 1st pick 13th this year and a prospect .Deep draft . Just asking from the crazy side ..
- oldduffman

I've started to think that was directed at Colliton more than at the players after Joker and Boqvist and others have commented on how much Keith has helped them with their games. Maybe he thought McD's push to bring up Boqvist earlier than maybe he should have was unwise. Maybe he wasn't keen on watching players who should, no question, be in the AHL struggle at the NHL level, but can you blame him? Who knows with that wacky brain of his?

I agree with everything said in this blog.

Keith was on pace for 30+ points when the season ended. I consider that the production you expect out of any D you’re paying 5.5 million, so it’s not like you’re going to replace him with a player just as good but at a better cap hit.

And that is all before you bring in the experience mentioned in the blog.

While he probably will be getting close to retirement by the time the hawks are looking to compete again I consider the tear it down rebuilds incredibly flawed to begin with. Teams don’t get better by trading away good players for futures just ask buffalo or Edmonton.

Re-sign toews and Kane to cheaper contracts and in 2 years time the hawks could be in a position to compete again if their prospects develop, rather than the 5 years it will take if you get rid of everything of value

One casualty at 1900 W Madison

@ChrisKuc

Life news: My time with the Blackhawks has come to an end.
I have nothing but fond memories and good things to say about my stint with the best organization in the NHL.
Thank you to everyone who helped me along the way.

I drink Coke .Keith is a great player .I was not so sure about mentor after the development league comment .Seebs although lost a step or two seemed to me to be the bigger mentor of the two. Would you trade Keith for Florida 1st pick 13th this year and a prospect .Deep draft . Just asking from the crazy side ..
- oldduffman

Depends on if you want another Championship for Toews and Kane. Keeping Keith and a few good moves maybe gets them competitive next year or the year after. Otherwise you're talking about 4-5 and one of none of them is around at that point.

I think they need to try to make it work while they still have superstars who are capable of being superstars. This isn't baseball where prospects \ futures have a lot of value unless you get them in bulk across multiple rounds over two or three years.

I've started to think that was directed at Colliton more than at the players after Joker and Boqvist and others have commented on how much Keith has helped them with their games. Maybe he thought McD's push to bring up Boqvist earlier than maybe he should have was unwise. Maybe he wasn't keen on watching players who should, no question, be in the AHL struggle at the NHL level, but can you blame him? Who knows with that wacky brain of his?
- pdx2ord

100% directed at the coach IMO. Keith has taken a few shots at him. JC is not a NHL coach.

I think they would get a good shot in the arm bringing in someone like Laviolette and with the skill level of some of the guys on the blueline he would have them pushing and at least playing entertaining hockey. Obviously there's a shelf life with a coach like that but he has gotten results in the past.

I've started to think that was directed at Colliton more than at the players after Joker and Boqvist and others have commented on how much Keith has helped them with their games. Maybe he thought McD's push to bring up Boqvist earlier than maybe he should have was unwise. Maybe he wasn't keen on watching players who should, no question, be in the AHL struggle at the NHL level, but can you blame him? Who knows with that wacky brain of his?
- pdx2ord

Oh ok that could be .I just thought Seebs was the more so the mentor with Dach staying at his house and all .May not have room for two mentor on the back end .And we are not getting anything for Seebs .

hahah - despite the downturn, the Hawks still have real estate in so many teams' heads

"In an interview with Sportsnet 590's "Lead Off" on Friday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said the league initially pitched that the play-in round be a best-of-3 series and some players weren't having it, partially due to a three-time Stanley Cup champion superstar forward with the Hawks.

"I did hear that the Western teams - and now it's going to be Edmonton - they were like, 'two out of three with Patrick Kane? I mean come on,'" Friedman said on the show."

One casualty at 1900 W Madison

@ChrisKuc

Life news: My time with the Blackhawks has come to an end.
I have nothing but fond memories and good things to say about my stint with the best organization in the NHL.
Thank you to everyone who helped me along the way.
- pdx2ord

It's a bad time to be any kind of journalist - and will be into the future - going well beyond sports to journalism in general.

And we in the democracies will be the worst for it.

Depends on if you want another Championship for Toews and Kane. Keeping Keith and a few good moves maybe gets them competitive next year or the year after. Otherwise you're talking about 4-5 and one of none of them is around at that point.

I think they need to try to make it work while they still have superstars who are capable of being superstars. This isn't baseball where prospects futures have a lot of value unless you get them in bulk across multiple rounds over two or three years.
- fattybeef

Oh I want a Championship every year !! LOL .And yes I don't think the HAWKS are ever to far away with the core as it is . Just have to have one eye on the future and one on the present . The league really is becoming a young mans league quick. I read somewhere that there are more players under twenty then over 35 . The cap is really forcing teams to go with the young guys quicker . Not sure I am happy with that ,just the nature of the beast

It's a bad time to be any kind of journalist - and will be into the future - going well beyond sports to journalism in general.

And we in the democracies will be the worst for it.
- StLBravesFan

Sadly too true

they need to get keith of the PP. he is terrible at it and can save his legs for PK and regular time. I don't think I have ever seen a worst shot on a player that has played PP for 10 years in my life. 2 things happen he pump fakes and lets the defender get in has lane and he s shots it into his skates or he misses really wide/high, not by a foot which might get redirected, but by 5 feet.

You hit on the main point, Tyler. Keith has more value to the Hawks than any return he may garner.

Getting Rid of Keith at this point is counter-productive.

As a team you need a #1 defenseman and Keith, declining skills or not, is still by far the best defenseman that the Hawks have, and his contract is at a reasonable cap hit.

If one of the youngsters takes a HUGE step and shows that he can be the #1, then maybe at that point you can consider a trade, but as mentioned, it would be impossible to replace his leadership, mentoring, etc.

100% directed at the coach IMO. Keith has taken a few shots at him. JC is not a NHL coach.

- fattybeef

can I see those disparaging quotes?

You hit on the main point, Tyler. Keith has more value to the Hawks than any return he may garner.
- Elbows15

yeah, agreed - unless some playoff team has a top five pick they would idiotically trade for him...

hahah - despite the downturn, the Hawks still have real estate in so many teams' heads

"In an interview with Sportsnet 590's "Lead Off" on Friday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said the league initially pitched that the play-in round be a best-of-3 series and some players weren't having it, partially due to a three-time Stanley Cup champion superstar forward with the Hawks.

"I did hear that the Western teams - and now it's going to be Edmonton - they were like, 'two out of three with Patrick Kane? I mean come on,'" Friedman said on the show."
- pdx2ord

yeah, there IS/WAS concern that there will be upsets...there are teams IN who are necessarily on strong footing with their fan base and ply-in and out performance does more bad if they lose like this...the excuses are convenient, but the fan base unforgiven.

hahah - despite the downturn, the Hawks still have real estate in so many teams' heads

"In an interview with Sportsnet 590's "Lead Off" on Friday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said the league initially pitched that the play-in round be a best-of-3 series and some players weren't having it, partially due to a three-time Stanley Cup champion superstar forward with the Hawks.

"I did hear that the Western teams - and now it's going to be Edmonton - they were like, 'two out of three with Patrick Kane? I mean come on,'" Friedman said on the show."
- pdx2ord

It also brought up Pittsburgh saying no way to facing Price was even a bigger deal. Askarov may never be Price ,even though he is consider the best prospect since him .
The Players sure see Price as a difference maker .

Keith is a valuable asset to the Blackhawks and pro hockey. If he chooses to stay in the game as a coach I believe he would be a great one. The Blackhawks need to hold on to him after he’s done playing for many reasons.

I drink Coke .Keith is a great player .I was not so sure about mentor after the development league comment .Seebs although lost a step or two seemed to me to be the bigger mentor of the two. Would you trade Keith for Florida 1st pick 13th this year and a prospect .Deep draft . Just asking from the crazy side ..
- oldduffman

I would venture to say Tallon and Q would love to have Keith on the Panthers for the same reason Tyler outlined in his blog for why the Blackhawks need to retain him: to mentor the young D.

Having Keith mentor Ekblad, Matheson, Weegar, Stillman, and Brown would be wonderful for the Cats. I'd rather have Keith mentoring Boqvist, Mitchell, Beaudin, Carlsson, and Krys for the Hawks.

If there was a Keith trade to be had with Florida, ask for a 1st + Denisenko...then Tallon hangs up.