Admitting first that GM Stan Bowman has publicly said he expects the core four of the Chicago Blackhawks — Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook — to stay with the organization through their rebuild, let’s look at what might really happen. As the team continues to lose, players continue to age and competitive talents start to become frustrated by a lack of winning, someone is likely to eventually be on the move. Who would it be?
Related: Blackhawks Issue Letter To Fans, Say They’re Committed to a Rebuild
To this point, Toews has been the most vocal of the Blackhawks core when it comes to showing disappointment that the team moved Brandon Saad to the Colorado Avalanche and didn’t bring back netminder Corey Crawford. But, does that mean he’s the most likely to be traded? Probably not. He’s still extremely valuable, is a good leader and young enough that he could survive three or four seasons of struggle.
Then there’s Brent Seabrook. In all honesty, the team would probably like to move Seabrook’s deal. There just aren’t going to be any takers based on the size of the contract, the term of the deal, his declining production and a flat salary cap.
Patrick Kane is… well, Patrick Kane. If you’re going to be moving him, you better have a really good reason and be getting a really good return.
That leaves Duncan Keith.
Why Is Duncan Keith Most Likely to Go?
There are a few reasons the Blackhawks might consider moving the top-tier defenseman, not the least of which is that the discussion between player and team has already been broached, in a manner of speaking.
According to Mark Lazerus of The Athletic, “Keith’s name has surfaced in speculation before each of the last two trade deadlines.” He admits that GM Stan Bowman never actually got to the point of asking him to waive his no-move clause but last February, Lazerus himself asked Keith if he’d be willing to move on and he didn’t rule it out.
Keith noted that he loves Chicago and his role on the team, but he wants to win. If Chicago isn’t willing to make the effort to try to win sooner than later, he’s only got so much time left as a 37-year-old defenseman. Lazerus said, “he doesn’t want to endure a long-term rebuild.”
Keith explained:
“Put it this way. I want to be here. I want to win a Cup, though. I’ve already won one, I like it here in Chicago, and I don’t want to go anywhere. … Shouldn’t we be trying to win? I mean, we’re the Blackhawks, right? Let’s do it.”
Those are questions the Blackhawks just essentially answered when they wrote a letter to their fans saying they were committed to going younger and rebuilding.
Keith Still Has Value Around the NHL
Still a top-four defenseman in the NHL, Keith can log big minutes, he’s an experienced leader and winner and his contract is workable for a lot of GMs in a tight salary cap NHL. His cap hit is $5.538 million a year but even more attractive is that fact his actual salary is just $2.65 million, $2.1 million and $1.5 million in each of the next three years.
If the Blackhawks wanted to move him, they could. If Keith wanted to be moved, it stands to reason the Blackhawks would try to facilitate a deal to give him another chance to win. That’s all it takes… two to tango.
It’s now a matter of how good or bad the Blackhawks actually are this next season.
Next: NHL Has Postponed the 2021 Winter Classic and All-Star Weekend
