Well, yesterday was a trip. The Chicago Blackhawks traded Duncan Keith to the Edmonton Oilers after 16 seasons with the club. It’s still hard, from a fan perspective, to wrap my head around the idea that Keith will not finish his career with the Blackhawks. He seemed like one of three sure-fire players from the modern-era Blackhawks that would play their entire career in Chicago. Now there are just two. Even at that, there’s no guarantees.
• While trading Keith seemed inevitable over the last few weeks, the deal itself actually comes out on the better end for the Blackhawks.
Full Oilers-Hawks deal:
Duncan Keith and Tim Soderlund for Caleb Jones And 2022 3rd RD pick
The 2022 pick will become a 2nd RD pick if Edm wins 3 rounds in 2022 playoffs AND Keith is amongst the top 4 in Oilers D time on ice during the first three rounds of the 2022 Playoffs.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 12, 2021
• Chicago sends Duncan Keith to the Oilers and didn’t have to retain any salary on the final two years of his deal. They get Caleb Jones and a 2022 conditional third-round pick in the process. They also send Tim Söderlund to the Oilers as well.
• From a Chicago perspective, it’s a great deal. From an Oilers perspective, not so much…
Not only did the Oilers fail to get Chicago to retain, but they sweetened the pot by making the third-rounder a potential second-rounder, and letting the Blackhawks dump a contract on them.
— Jonathan Willis (@JonathanWillis) July 12, 2021
• I’m pleasantly surprised that Stan Bowman was able to get this kind of deal done with Keith. Imagine what the deal could have been if they agreed to eat some of Keith’s cap hit?
Ken Holland on cap retention: “If we were getting Duncan Keith at $2.75 (million) the price would have been a lot higher than it was today.”
— Jonathan Willis (@JonathanWillis) July 13, 2021
• Blackhawks President of Hockey Operations and General Manager had this to say about the legendary defenseman following the trade.
“He will go down as one of the best and most driven defensemen this game has ever seen.”#Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/ACxVsDxune
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) July 12, 2021
• Take a trip down memory lane with Duncan…
One of the very best to wear the #Blackhawks sweater.
Thank you, Duncs! pic.twitter.com/fdgcXHSwIl
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) July 12, 2021
• Gah. Still seems like a bad dream that Keith is no longer a Blackhawk. He’s one of my favorite players all-time and his run with the Blackhawks might never be duplicated with the club in the modern era.
1 Conn Smythe Trophy.
2 Norris Trophies.
3 Stanley Cups.
16 seasons.
1,192 games played.
All in a #Blackhawks sweater.
Thank you @DuncanKeith! pic.twitter.com/r75vcmKNqe
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) July 12, 2021
• Keith left the Blackhawks with a message on his Instagram, following his first media availability after the trade was made official.
Duncan Keith with a heartfelt message to the #Blackhawks community as his time with the club ends.
(IG: dk_2_) pic.twitter.com/XiwczOzB1J
— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) July 13, 2021
• The “One Goal” era of the Blackhawks is almost completely gone from the organization. It’s weird.
Duncan Keith, traded.
Marian Hossa, retired.
Patrick Sharp, retired.
Brent Seabrook, retired.
Niklas Hjalmarsson, traded, possibly retired
Corey Crawford, retired.
Andrew Shaw, retired.
Kris Versteeg, retired.
Dave Bolland, retired.
Brandon Saad, traded.
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) July 12, 2021
• And a fond farewell to Tim Söderlund, a prospect I had high hopes for and he did not get to reach them with the Blackhawks.
Thank you, Timmy! Loved watching those sweet shootout moves. Have fun and good luck in Edmonton! pic.twitter.com/pJcPa02JjD
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) July 12, 2021
• The return for the Blackhawks in the trade could end up becoming a second-round pick next season if Keith helps lead the Oilers to a deep postseason run. It also hinges on Caleb Jones and what he might be able to do in a bigger role with Chicago.
Bowman on Caleb Jones: “A smooth skating, versatile defenseman who brings a well-rounded game to the Blackhawks. Caleb transitions the puck nicely with his legs or through outlet passes… We believe his best hockey is in front of him.”
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) July 12, 2021
• It also doesn’t hurt that Caleb is the younger brother of Seth Jones, a MAJOR trade target that the Blackhawks are interested in. We’ll see where that ends up going in the next few days/weeks as the offseason continues.
• The organization made another trade with the Oilers yesterday, but it was not part of the Keith deal. The Rockford IceHogs acquired former Penn State standout Liam Folkes from the Bakersfield Condors.
TRADE ALERT: We have received forward Liam Folkes from @Condors for future considerations.
Folkes skated with #Blackhawks prospect and IceHogs forward Evan Barratt at Penn State.
Story: https://t.co/lhfTAEQ79B pic.twitter.com/G86bVM55eI
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) July 13, 2021
• Again, it was a wild day.
• So wild in fact, that I nearly forgot that the Lightning had their Stanley Cup boat parade and rally yesterday. It went just about as well as you could expect, given the standard that was set in last year’s parade.
The rain might have stopped us a little early, but at least we have these gems ? pic.twitter.com/Q4F3wwcK9H
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) July 12, 2021
• I’m not convinced Nikita Kucherov has been somber at all since the end of Game Five.
Kucherov is having a good time pic.twitter.com/w6tnBTKqtd
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) July 12, 2021
• Ladies and Gentlemen, the best goaltender on the planet…
Vasy wearing the Conn Smythe as a hat. ? #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/eaiQ1o7m0n
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 12, 2021
• But you know, it’s all fun and games until the Stanley Cup gets broken.
That’ll buff out. https://t.co/lpTMYYMBzq pic.twitter.com/25A11bdY2t
— Bolts Jolts (@BoltsJolts) July 12, 2021
• I’m sure it’s fine. Leave it to the Florida men the ruin a good thing. Wild.
• You know, speaking of the Wild, we got breaking news this morning. Remember right before the 2012 lockout? The Minnesota Wild signed MASSIVE identical contracts with Ryan Suter and Zach Parise. Well, today those contract come to a premature end in Minnesota.
BREAKING NEWS: #mnwild buying out Zach Parise and Ryan Suter: Sourceshttps://t.co/ScfiN7urSl
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) July 13, 2021
• Both Parise and Suter signed 13-year, $98M deals on July 4th in 2012. Now they both have been bought-out on July 13th, 2021. According to The Atheltic’s Michael Russo, the buy-outs breakdown like this: “The Wild will pay each $6.7 million over the next eight years and be charged with $2.371 million, $6.371 million and $7.371 million cap hits in the next four years, respectively, for each, then $833,333 cap hits the four years after that for each.”
• OUCH. You hate to see it.
• Other breaking news this morning, long-time Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne has called it a career.
Nashville Predators goaltender and franchise icon Pekka Rinne announced his retirement from the NHL today following a decorated 15-year career.https://t.co/Gtit6GmweO
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) July 13, 2021
• For as much grief that Rinne has caused the Blackhawks over the years, he was an incredible talent and an incredible person. Best of luck to him in whatever he does in life after hockey.
• In other league news yesterday coming from the annual GM meetings, it appears that there is slow progress being made on the NHL participation in the 2022 Winter Olympics.
The NHL’s 2021-22 schedule is not expected to be released until the Draft. I’m told the NHL has made “slow progress” with respect to player participation in the Winter Olympics. If that does not improve in the next 11-12 days, the 2022 Olympics are likely off the table.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) July 12, 2021
• Also around the league, the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation has created a memorial fund in honor of Matiss Kivlenieks.
The #CBJ Foundation has established the Matiss Kivlenieks Memorial Fund to support youth hockey initiatives in Columbus and in Latvia.
— Mark Scheig (@markscheig) July 12, 2021
• In news somewhat related to the Blackhawks, the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL are changing their logo. If you haven’t seen it, it’s 99% identical to the Blackhawks logo.
The Future Flies || 7.14.21 pic.twitter.com/aosEOziEE1
— Portland Winterhawks (@pdxwinterhawks) July 12, 2021
• The Winterhawks have used the logo ever since the team was founded, but said that the change is to give the team their own identity with a logo that is their own, not borrowed from Chicago. I’m very intrigued to see what comes of the Winterhawks new look, coming tomorrow.
• Finally, another moment of zen from Stephen Johns…
The trek back home starts tomorrow. Gonna take my time ✌?#MentalMiles pic.twitter.com/Ccv0MD1Ud8
— Stephen Johns (@stjohns28) July 12, 2021
• That’ll do it for today. Go enjoy your Tuesday!
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