Chicago Blackhawks: 3 keys to success for Duncan Keith

Key 3: Embrace his role as a mentor

The best thing Keith could do for Chicago is to work with the younger players to help the team become the powerhouse it was. If this is the direction he chooses to take, he should embrace this role fully. This would mean that he’s committing to Chicago, and helping pave a new path for the team of tomorrow.

Most people would welcome this decision. Keith already wears an “A” for the team, and he’s a respected player. He wouldn’t be seen as Jonathan Toews’s counterpart if he wasn’t. As a leader for young players, you don’t get candidates much better than him. Especially since Keith isn’t a washed-up player collecting a paycheck. He still makes great plays and can hang with top talent across the NHL.

Adam Boqvist is fortunate to be able to play alongside him. If Ian Mitchell or anyone else comes up from Rockford, hopefully, Keith’s knowledge rubs off on them as well. Even if he isn’t the #1 defenseman on the team anymore, he has a lot to offer.

Keith’s fate is in his own hands. With the clock winding down on his career, he’s got some tough choices to make. Hopefully, he sticks around in Chicago and ends his career with the Blackhawks. If he decides to move on, there’s no doubt everyone will be pulling for him.