The 37-year-old veteran has spent most of his career in the shadow of stellar colleagues, but his contribution to the creation of a small hockey dynasty is indisputable.
It is no coincidence that Conn Smythe won the Trophy for the most useful player in the playoffs from his last successful campaign. The Norris Trophy, which is awarded annually to the best defender of the NHL, has even won twice.
“If you take perseverance and resilience into account and add success to them, you will find few players like him in the league in the last twenty years. Chicago will definitely discard his number and put the statue in front of the United Center, “said NBC hockey analyst Eddie Olczyk.
The replacement of the two-time Olympic winner has been rumored for a long time. In favor of Edmonton, who in return sent a young bull Caleb Jones to Chicago and the third round of the 2022 draft, the desire to spend more time with his son finally decided.
Keith’s ex-wife is raising eight-year-old Colton in Pentincton, Canada. The shot back approached him by more than two thousand kilometers.
“It simply came to our notice then. I will remember the beautiful years at Blackhawks for the rest of my life, but now I am fully focused on my new engagement. “I will do my best to win the Stanley Cup in Edmonton,” he said.
Keith changes his jersey for the first time in his career, he was traded from Chicago to Edmonton |
Although the Oilers have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl at their disposal, quite possibly the two best strikers of today, they are still waiting for more significant success in the NHL elimination phase. Last year, surprisingly, they were not enough for Chicago, in this year’s playoffs, they lost to Winnipeg 0: 4 in the first round.
Above all, the new reinforcement should provide the Canadian team with the necessary experience. General Manager Ken Holland chose a seasoned quarterback despite the fact that his performance has stagnated in recent years. The past year of the NHL ended with a record of fifteen points in fifty-four games. He no longer seemed so sure, he fell behind in skating, sometimes he made unusual mistakes.
Age simply cannot be stopped. But there is no doubt about the Canadian winning mentality and leadership skills. “When I look at the roster, I see a lot of great players. They have shown several times what they are capable of. Now it is only necessary to transfer it to the decisive phase of the season, “believes the exchanged Keith.
The Blackhawks thus lost another of the giants. A year ago, goalkeeper Corey Crawford and defender Brent Seabrook ended their careers. Of the “immortal” five, only Kane and Toews remain, next to whom new faces such as Alex DeBrincat, Kirby Dach, Adam Boqvist or Dominik Kubalík are emerging.
In Chicago, they trust their young rifles, but they realize that some players simply cannot be replaced. And Keith is definitely one of them. “We appreciate everything he has done for our organization. His legacy will never disappear, “praised the club’s legend General Manager Stan Bowman.
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