Duncan Keith plans to retire this summer
Duncan Keith has made the decision to hang up his skates.
Confirming #Oilers D Duncan Keith has reached a decision to retire, leaving Edmonton with lots of cap flexibility now. #Blackhawks will also be hit with a cap recapture charge, which was a difficult part of Keith’s discernment process.
First to report: @PierreVLeBrun
Keith retiring means that the Oilers will free up $5,538,462 in salary cap room this summer but they also now have a need for a veteran defenseman on their blueline.
The Blackhawks will also be charged with a salary cap recapture charge as Keith retired before the end of the 13-year contract he signed back in 2009. According to Cap Friendly, the penalty will be $5,538,462 in 2022-23 and $1,938,456 in 2023-24.
Yesterday the #Blackhawks opened up $6,400,000 in cap space when they trade DeBrincat to OTT.
Today they got $5,538,462 added right back on to their salary cap.
Probably not what a team looking to weaponize their cap space this season expected to happen.
Originally selected in the second round of the 2002 NHL Draft, Keith played 16 seasons with the Blackhawks and was a key part of their Stanley Cup championships in 2010, 2013, and 2015. Keith won the Norris Trophy for the league’s top defenseman in 2010 and 2014 and won the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP in 2015.
The Blackhawks traded Keith to the Oilers last summer for Caleb Jones and a third-round pick so that he could be closer to his family in British Columbia. He played in 64 games for the Oilers and scored 21 points while logging 19:44 per game.
While the average annual salary on Keith’s deal was $5,538,462, he was set to be paid just $1.5 million in actual salary for the 2022-23 season.
Keith will very likely be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame once he becomes eligible.