Duncan Keith, a multiple Stanley Cup champion, a two-time Norris Trophy winner, and a Conn Smythe trophy winner, is retiring after 17 seasons in the league, according to Sportsnet.
After spending 16 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks and winning a multitude of awards at both the NHL and international levels, the Winnipeg, Manitoba native was traded to the Edmonton Oilers during the 2021/22 season.
Keith also scored a career high 69 points and 14 goals in the 2009/10 season, and had 21 points in 23 games with the Blackhawks on their third Stanley Cup run. And then there’s his two Gold medals (2010 and 2014) playing for Team Canada. Those accolades provide only a glimpse as to how talented and strong a D-man Keith truly was.
Salary cap implications
Keith has one year remaining on his contract worth $5.54 million. According to CapFriendly, his retirement will come at a cost for both his former teams.
For the Oilers, this money simply becomes savings for the team, that can now use that money elsewhere with hopes of re-signing names like Evander Kane, Kailer Yamamoto, Brett Kulak, and Jesse Puljujarvi.
Things get a little more complicated for the Blackhawks who will unfortunately suffer a salary cap recapture penalty of $5.54 million next season, and $1.9 million in 2023/24. The 13-year $72 million deal that the Blackhawks signed with Keith in 2009 is now illegal under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement and because of this, the Hawks will be penalized for cap space they saved throughout the first 11 seasons of Keith’s contract.
Possibility of a trade?
While it may not seem necessary, there might be chance that Chicago tries to get their once beloved defenceman back in a Blackhawks sweater before all is finalized.
The future Hall of Famer certainly deserves to go out on his own terms, and if that means donning a Blackhawks jersey one final time, both parties involved should make it happen.
Andrew Stuetz