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After weeks of rumors and speculation, the Chicago Blackhawks have reportedly traded Duncan Keith to the Edmonton Oilers.
According to multiple media outlets, the return is defenseman Caleb Jones and a mid-round pick. Despite speculation that this would happen, Chicago reportedly withheld no wages from the deal.
Keith at CHI for Caleb Jones and a third. No salary withheld.
– Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 12, 2021
There seems to be some mystery surrounding this draft pick, as ESPN reporter Greg Wyshynski continued with this report:
Some intrigue on Duncan Keith’s trade: Chicago-headed third round with Caleb Jones is a conditional pick, with conditions to come when the deal is approved by the NHL. The Oilers don’t have a 3rd in 2021, FWIW.
– Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) July 12, 2021
Ben Pope of the Sun-Times suggested that more players could also be involved in the deal.
I’m also told that there are a few minor players / contracts involved in the trade.
– Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) July 12, 2021
Assuming these minor contracts don’t involve any key Chicago hopes, this deal looks like a massive win for the Blackhawks, who have lost the last two years of Keith’s $ 5,538,462 AAV, freeing up some l ‘extra space to make more noise during the off-season. . The addition of Jones also adds another young blue-liner to Chicago prospects gluttonous to the post.
But that’s secondary to what happened with that deal, which ends the second longest career in Blackhawks history. Keith played 1,192 regular season games with the Blackhawks, just behind Stan Mikita’s 1,396. In those 16 seasons, Keith has appeared in the Stanley Cup Playoffs 10 times, adding 135 more games to Keith’s well-worn tires.
The accolades are as long as those of any NHL player:
- three-time Stanley Cup winner
- three times All-Star
- double winner of the Norris Trophy as the best defenseman in the league
- two Olympic gold medals
- Winner of the 2015 Conn Smythe Trophy as Playoff MVP
It will take some time to find the right words to properly express Keith’s legacy with this franchise. Right now, he’s another piece of that much-vaunted core of the Blackhawks of the 2010s who is now a former member of the team.
And that awareness stings a little more each time that happens.
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