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Duncan Keith’s legendary run with the Blackhawks – three Stanley Cups, two Norris Trophies and nearly 1,200 games played – is over.
But by trading Keith to the Oilers on Monday, the Hawks have positioned themselves dramatically to improve their defense in the post-Keith era.
The Hawks received young defenseman Caleb Jones and a third-round pick while sending AHL forward Tim Soderlund to Edmonton, according to numerous reports. The Hawks are also not keeping Keith’s $ 5.5 million cap for the remaining two seasons of his contract, according to a source.
The combination of these factors means the Hawks will have a lot more money, flexibility and available minutes to pursue one of the two elite defensemen available from the offseason: Seth Jones and Dougie Hamilton.
Seth’s 24-year-old younger brother Caleb Jones is himself a strong and promising defender himself. He has played 93 games in the last three seasons with the Oilers, including 33 games – in which he averaged 13:36 ice time per game and collected four assists – last season. He is currently a guy from the third couple who could grow into a bigger role.
Soderlund, 23, is a low-profile prospect who scored just five points in the AHL last season. The third-round pick is in the 2022 draft, not the 2021 draft next week, but could become a second-round pick if the Oilers reach the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.
Keith, who will turn 38 later this month, had a lock-in clause in his contract and used that leverage to facilitate trade to Western Canada in particular. His family and 8-year-old son live in Penticton, BC, and he has been unable to visit them this season due to restrictions at the Canada-U.S. Border.
His number 2 jersey will almost certainly be retired by the Hawks in the years to come, and Keith will become one of the best defensemen in franchise history. His departure continues a year in which many key players from the Cup Dynasty era – from Corey Crawford to Brent Seabrook, Brandon Saad to Andrew Shaw – have also retired or left Chicago.
This story will be updated.
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