The Blackhawks Will Ask Duncan Keith If He Wants To Be Traded Per Pierre Lebrun, Stan..DONT YOU FUCKING DARE
Earlier this week I wrote about what it would take, in theory, for the Blackhawks to explore trading Duncan Keith. Well now it appears as though the Blackhawks are going to actually see what is out there and if Duncan Keith is willing to be moved. In the blog I laid out trade scenarios that would describe as “fuck you” offers. If you want a Conn Smythe winning, 2x Norris winner, 3x Cup Champion, well then you have to pay through the nose and then pay some more and also fuck you. That’s because I think the Blackhawks are a better team next year with Duncan Keith than without him.
Unless Stan Bowman and John McDonough don’t care about next year either. Which to me is what a trade of Duncan Keith would indicate. AND if you don’t care about next year, when Toews and Kane will be 31 then you really don’t care about the end of their careers either and you’re turning the team over to…Adam Boqvist? FUCK outta here. I also don’t trust Stan to wheel and deal with anyone besides Chiarelli and he’s unemployed. The Blackhawks are playing a DANGEROUS game by exploring this move. Under NO circumstances can you trade Keith for future assets. You can’t. If you do then you might as well trade 19 and 88 next year too. Nobody wants that. Nobody with a brain anyways.
There are obviously some other complications.
1) Duncan Keith has a Full No-Trade clause. When the team was a complete and utter disaster last year and morale was low I was told that Duncan Keith said at one point “trade me to Toronto. I’ll win another fucking Norris”…or something to that affect. Time changes things. He’s playing better this year. It seems as though team morale is higher than it was in 2017-18. That’s just my opinion, obviously though. I am not in that locker room. Maybe he wants to see if this thing can get turned around because there seemingly is a path back to the top.
2) Duncan Keith is 35 years-old. If the trade is a disaster and he just says “fuck this” and retires after this year or next year then that would cause MAJOR salary cap problems for the Blackhawks. The CBA has a rule in place for players who retire early on these long-term deals meant to circumvent the salary cap.
There’s another thing…this is Duncan Keith. DUNCAN KEITH. I am sorry. Certain players shouldn’t be traded. He is one of them. Maybe I am a fan. Maybe I am just too sentimental, but Duncan Keith should finish out his career here. That is what is right. He’s one of three foundational players here. He should have his #2 in the rafters. He should have a statue with Toews and Kane outside the United Center. He should finish what he started because he’s earned that right. I want him here for that reason, but also because I believe having Keith involved next year is the quickest and best way to compete at a high level again. Trading him means you’re officially punting on the rest of this era with 19 and 88. That would be a travesty.