| Duncan Keith | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Keith with theChicago Blackhawks in December 2014 | |||
| Born | (1983-07-16)July 16, 1983 (age 41) Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Chicago Blackhawks Edmonton Oilers | ||
| National team |  Canada | ||
| NHL draft | 54th overall,2002 Chicago Blackhawks | ||
| Playing career | 2003–2022 | ||
| Website | DuncanKeith.com | ||
Duncan Keith (born July 16, 1983) is aCanadian former professionalice hockeydefenceman who played 17 seasons in theNational Hockey League for theChicago Blackhawks andEdmonton Oilers. He won threeStanley Cup championships with Chicago in2010,2013, and2015. In 2017, Keith was named one of the "100 Greatest NHL Players" in history.[1]
Following his freshman year atMichigan State University, Keith was selected in the second round, 54th overall, by Chicago in the2002 NHL Entry Draft. After splitting the next year between Michigan State and theKelowna Rockets of theWestern Hockey League (WHL), he spent two seasons with theNorfolk Admirals of theAmerican Hockey League (AHL). In2005–06, he played his NHL rookie season with the Blackhawks. Four years later, he won theJames Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL's best defenceman. He won a second Norris in2014 and received theConn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the2015 Stanley Cup playoffs by a unanimous vote.
Keith was known as a two-way defenceman, capable in both shutdown and offensive roles.[2] He is a two-time gold medallist in international competition, having appeared withTeam Canada at the2010 Vancouver and2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
Keith is the middle child of Dave and Jean Keith; older brother Cameron (born in 1981) and younger sister Rebecca (born in 1984). His father was inWinnipeg working at the localCanadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) branch when he transferred toFort Frances,Ontario, in 1985 for an assistant manager position. Keith's mother worked in the health field at Rainycrest Home for the Aged in Fort Frances.[3]
Keith grew up as aBoston Bruins fan, singling-out defencemanRay Bourque and forwardCam Neely as his favourite players, as well asWayne Gretzky.[4] Keith played minor hockey in the Fort Frances Minor Hockey Association along with his brother. Initially beginning as aforward with the Fort Frances Times Tigers, he has recalled switching to defence at the age of eight or nine. He went on to play AA Atom with Pinewood Sports and Marine Ltd and PeeWee with the Knights of Columbus. After Keith established himself in the NHL, the town of Fort Frances recognized his success by declaring July 21, 2008, "Duncan Keith Day."[3]
While Keith began to be recruited for AAA Bantam inThunder Bay, Ontario, his father obtained a managerial position at a CIBC branch inSummerland,British Columbia.[3] At age 15, his family moved to nearbyPenticton,[5] where he finished his last two years of minor hockey.[2] He then earned a spot on the localJunior A team, thePenticton Panthers of theBritish Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), as a 16-year-old.
Keith played three years for thePenticton Panthers from 1999–00 through 2000–01, scoring 78 goals and 148 assists for 226 points in 163 games. He was recruited byMichigan State University and playedcollege hockey there for two years with theMichigan State Spartans of theCentral Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). He scored a goal in his Spartans debut in theCold War, an outdoor game atSpartan Stadium against the state-rivalUniversity of Michigan Wolverines on October 6, 2001, the game set a record for attendance at their hockey games. He completed his freshman year with 3 goals and 15 points in 41 games, ranked fourth among team defencemen behindJohn-Michael Liles,Brad Fast andAndrew Hutchinson.[6] During Keith's second college season, he left the Spartans after 15 games to join themajor junior ranks. He returned to British Columbia to play for theKelowna Rockets of theWestern Hockey League (WHL) and amassed 46 points (11 goals and 35 assists) over 37 regular season games with a +32plus-minus in his single season there. He also added 14 points in 19 playoff games.
Keith was selected by theChicago Blackhawks in the second round, 54th overall, of the2002 NHL Entry Draft. He signed with Chicago prior to the2003–04 season and spent his first two seasons after junior in theAmerican Hockey League (AHL) with the team affiliateNorfolk Admirals. He recorded seven goals and 25 points over 75 games in his professional rookie season in2003–04. Keith's chances of earning a spot with the Blackhawks the following season were eliminated due to the2004–05 NHL lock-out. Remaining with the Admirals, he continued his pace with 26 points in 79 games.
Following two seasons in the AHL, Keith made the Blackhawks squad out of the 2005 training camp. He played in his first NHL game on October 5, 2005, against theMighty Ducks of Anaheim. He made an immediate impact on the club, scoring nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points, while averaging over 23 minutes of ice time in 81 games during his2005–06 NHL rookie season. The Blackhawks re-signed him in the off-season to a four-year contract extension.
In2006–07, he played in all 82 games for the Blackhawks and once again led the team in average ice time at 23 minutes. He had two goals and 29 assists for 31 points while leading the team in blocked shots with 148.
For the2007–08 season, Keith saw even more ice time as injuries wracked the Blackhawks' defensive corps.[citation needed] He began the season on the top-defensive pairing withBrent Seabrook.[7] By mid-January, he was averaging 24:31 minutes of ice time and had a team leading plus-minus of +14. He was rewarded for this effort by a selection to his firstNHL All-Star Game in 2008. Keith went on to finish the season with 12 goals and 20 assists for 32 points, along with a +30 plus-minus rating, despite being on a non-playoff team.
On October 8, 2008, Keith was named analternate captain along with forwardPatrick Sharp to the start the2008–09 season.[8] He helped a rejuvenated Blackhawks team, led by second-year forwardsJonathan Toews andPatrick Kane, back into theStanley Cup playoffs, recording 8 goals and 44 points, second among team defencemen toBrian Campbell. He added 6 points in 17 playoff games as the Blackhawks advanced to theWestern Conference Finals, where they were eliminated byCentral Division rivals, the defending Stanley Cup championDetroit Red Wings.
With Keith having established himself with Seabrook as one of the top shutdown pairings in the league, he made significant offensive improvement in2009–10.[9] On December 3, 2009, the Blackhawks announced having extended Keith's contract simultaneously with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. At $72 million over 13 years, Keith's contract was the most lucrative in team history, surpassingMarián Hossa's 12-year, $62.8 million contract signed several months prior in July 2009.[10] He completed the season with 14 goals and 55 assists for 69 points in all 82 contests, ranked second among league defencemen behindMike Green of theWashington Capitals.[11] It was also the highest total for a Blackhawks defenceman sinceChris Chelios' 72-point season in1995–96.[11] His 26:35 minutes of average ice time was the second highest in the league.[11] Entering the2010 playoffs as the second seed in the Western Conference, the Blackhawks eliminated theNashville Predators,Vancouver Canucks andSan Jose Sharks in the first three rounds. During Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Sharks on May 23, 2010, Keith had seven teeth knocked out by a puck on a clearing attempt by Sharks' forwardPatrick Marleau. He returned minutes after the incident to help the Blackhawks complete a four-game sweep of the Sharks and advance to theStanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1992. Matched against thePhiladelphia Flyers, they won theStanley Cup in six games for the Blackhawks first Stanley Cup championship since 1961. Keith finished the post-season with 17 points (two goals and 15 assists) over all 22 contests. Nominated for theJames Norris Memorial Trophy for his regular season performance, he outvoted Mike Green andDrew Doughty of theLos Angeles Kings to earn the award as the NHL's best defenceman in the off-season.[11]
In the2010–11 season, Chicago barely qualified for the2011 playoffs as the eighth and final seed in the West just two points ahead of theDallas Stars. Keith's individual production decreased to seven goals and 38 assists 45 points over all 82 games for a second straight season. Facing thePresidents' Trophy-winning Vancouver Canucks in the first round of the playoffs, the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks were eliminated in seven games. Keith recorded four goals and two assists in all seven games during the series.
On March 23, 2012, Keith was suspended five games for delivering an elbow to the head of Vancouver Canucks forwardDaniel Sedin. Head of the Department of Player SafetyBrendan Shanahan observed that the hit was "dangerous, reckless, and caused injury" in his video release.[12]
On June 4, 2013, Keith received a one-game suspension for a slash to the face of Los Angeles Kings' forwardJeff Carter during Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. The league, in announcing the suspension, referred to the slash as "a one handed upward swing" which struck Carter directly in the face causing a laceration which required 20 stitches to close.[13] After defeating the defending Stanley Cup champion Kings in five games in the Western Conference Finals, Keith and the Blackhawks defeated theBoston Bruins in six games in theStanley Cup Finals and Keith assisted on the late game tying goal byBryan Bickell in game six beforeDave Bolland scored the series clinching goal moments later.
In the following season, Keith tallied six goals and 55 assists while maintaining a +22 plus-minus rating over 79 games. He was with gold-medallist Team Canada at the2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.[14] Keith recorded four goals and seven assists in the2014 playoffs, but lost to Los Angeles Kings in the Western Conference Finals, the eventual champions. After the season's conclusion, Keith was awarded his second Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenceman.[15]
On June 15, 2015, Keith won his third Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks. His2015 playoffs performance resulted in theConn Smythe Trophy for playoffs MVP, after scoring the winning goal onTampa Bay Lightning goaltenderBen Bishop.[16] He joinsHenrik Zetterberg in having achieved scoring the Cup-winning goal and receiving the Conn Smythe Trophy in the same year in2008.
On March 29, 2016, Keith was checked to the ice byMinnesota Wild forwardCharlie Coyle and retaliated with his stick—Coyle required medical attention having blood dripping from his nose. Keith was given a match penalty for intent to injure. A review would lead to his suspension from the last five games of the regular season and the first game of the2016 playoffs – causing Keith to forfeit $148,883.35 in salary under the terms of theNHL collective bargaining agreement.[17][18]
On December 11, 2018, Keith and teammate Brent Seabrook became the first pair of defencemen, and the seventh duo in NHL history, to play 1,000 games together.[19][20][21]
In late-June 2021, it was reported that Keith had requested a trade from the Blackhawks toWestern Canada or thePacific Northwest of the United States to be closer to his family (who live inPenticton, British Columbia) as he finished out his career.[22] On July 12, Keith's sixteen season run with the Blackhawks came to an end when he, along withTim Söderlund, were traded to theEdmonton Oilers in exchange forCaleb Jones and a conditional third-round pick in2022.[23] Keith left the Chicago organisation holding numerous distinctions, including the second most games played in team uniform, second most points by a blueliner (behind onlyDoug Wilson) and having led the team in ice time for every season he played.[22] Oilers general managerKen Holland's decision to trade for Keith was controversial, with many faulting the decision to agree to the trade without Chicago retaining any portion of Keith's salary against thesalary cap.[24][25][26] At the time of the trade, a number ofanalytical models rated Keith as one of the worst defencemen in the NHL.[27]
Despite the controversy, Keith was generally regarded as having performed solidly in his debut season in Edmonton, recording one goal and 20 assists for 21 points in 64 games played, largely on the second pair.[28] He spent much of the second half of the season partnered withEvan Bouchard, who credited him as a valuable mentor.[29] The Oilers finished the season second in thePacific Division, advancing into the2022 playoffs. The team defeated theLos Angeles Kings and theCalgary Flames in the first two rounds, meeting the top seeded and eventual Stanley Cup ChampionColorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Finals before being defeated in a four game sweep.[30]
Following the end of the season, the Oilers reportedly asked Keith to clarify by July 1, 2022 whether he intended to play another season or retire.[31] Keith officially announced his retirement on July 12.[32]
TheEdmonton Oilers hired Keith as a player development consultant on October 14, 2022.[33]
 Keith playing for Team Canada in 2012 | ||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing Canada | ||
| Ice hockey | ||
| Winter Olympics | ||
 | 2010 Vancouver | |
| 2014 Sochi | |
| World Championships | ||
 | 2008 Canada | |
Keith debuted internationally forCanada at the2008 IIHF World Championship. He contributed two assists in nine games as Canada won a silver medal, losing in the gold medal game toRussia.
On December 30, 2009, Keith was selected to play for Canada at the2010 Winter Olympics inVancouver. He was named to the squad along with Blackhawks teammates Brent Seabrook and Jonathan Toews.[34] Although Keith was expected to retain Seabrook as his defensive partner from the NHL to Canada, Seabrook ended up as the designated seventh defenceman while Keith formed a pairing with Drew Doughty.[35] Keith finished the tournament with six assists, leading Canada in ice time,[36] as Canada won the gold medal over theUnited States 3–2 in overtime on February 28, 2010.[37] It was Keith's first international gold medal.
Keith also played on Canada's gold medal-winning team at theIce hockey at the 2014 Winter Olympics – Men's tournament inSochi.[38]
Keith and his ex-wife Kelly-Rae have one son, who was born on May 8, 2013.[39][40]
On February 25, 2014, Keith, along with Blackhawks teammate Brent Seabrook, made a cameo appearance on theNBC dramaChicago Fire.[41]
Bold indicates led league
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1999–00 | Penticton Panthers | BCHL | 59 | 9 | 27 | 36 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Penticton Panthers | BCHL | 60 | 18 | 64 | 82 | 61 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Michigan State University | CCHA | 41 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Michigan State University | CCHA | 15 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Kelowna Rockets | WHL | 37 | 11 | 35 | 46 | 60 | 19 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 12 | ||
| 2003–04 | Norfolk Admirals | AHL | 75 | 7 | 18 | 25 | 44 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | ||
| 2004–05 | Norfolk Admirals | AHL | 79 | 9 | 17 | 26 | 78 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | ||
| 2005–06 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 81 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 79 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 82 | 2 | 29 | 31 | 76 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 82 | 12 | 20 | 32 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 77 | 8 | 36 | 44 | 60 | 17 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 10 | ||
| 2009–10 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 82 | 14 | 55 | 69 | 51 | 22 | 2 | 15 | 17 | 10 | ||
| 2010–11 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 82 | 7 | 38 | 45 | 22 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 | ||
| 2011–12 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 74 | 4 | 36 | 40 | 42 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2012–13 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 47 | 3 | 24 | 27 | 31 | 22 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 18 | ||
| 2013–14 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 79 | 6 | 55 | 61 | 28 | 19 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 8 | ||
| 2014–15 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 80 | 10 | 35 | 45 | 20 | 23 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 4 | ||
| 2015–16 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 67 | 9 | 34 | 43 | 26 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | ||
| 2016–17 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 80 | 6 | 47 | 53 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2017–18 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 82 | 2 | 30 | 32 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 82 | 6 | 34 | 40 | 70 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 61 | 3 | 24 | 27 | 18 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 4 | ||
| 2020–21 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 54 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 64 | 1 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 16 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | ||
| NHL totals | 1,256 | 106 | 540 | 646 | 675 | 151 | 19 | 72 | 91 | 70 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Canada Pacific | U17 |  | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2008 | Canada | WC |  | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | |
| 2010 | Canada | OG |  | 7 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2012 | Canada | WC | 5th | 8 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2014 | Canada | OG | | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| Junior totals | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Senior totals | 30 | 1 | 19 | 20 | 12 | ||||
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| NHL All-Star Game | 2008,2011,2015,2017 |
| Winter Olympics Gold Medal | 2010,2014 |
| Stanley Cup champion | 2010,2013,2015 |
| James Norris Memorial Trophy | 2010,2014 |
| NHL first All-Star team | 2010,2014 |
| Conn Smythe Trophy | 2015 |
| NHL second All-Star team | 2017 |
| NHL All-Decade 1st Team | 2010s[42] |
Duncan Keith had an assist. He and defenseman Brent Seabrook marked their 1,000th regular-season game together, the most by current NHL teammates and seventh all-time.
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | James Norris Memorial Trophy winner 2010 2014 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Conn Smythe Trophy winner 2015 | Succeeded by |