Duncan Keith Officially Announces Retirement

On Tuesday, Duncan Keith announced his official retirement from the National Hockey League. The news came after two months of speculation following the conclusion of the 2021-22 season - Keith's 17th in the league. Set to turn 39 years old later this week, Keith did have one season remaining on the 13-year, $72 million contract ($5.53 AAV) signed back in early-December of 2009 with the Chicago Blackhawks. "I think the last few years, as you get to a certain age, you evaluate how you're feeling, how your body's feeling," Keith said. "I always took pride in my training and being ready. It just felt the last few years, there was a change in how I felt... "It's never an easy decision. I think there's part of me that knows I could still play, and I think that's how I wanted to go out, knowing I still had some game left in me, and I'm relatively healthy. That's basically where my mindset was at." The veteran defenceman will retire as an Edmonton Oiler, after spending the first 16 seasons of his career in Chicago. "I really wanted to win the Cup this past year, and I know coming here we had a lot of great players, a lot of great pieces," the elder statesman said. "You never know if you can win the Cup. I knew we'd have a chance, made it to the final four, and that's pretty special." "Obviously there are some steps that need to continue there, but knowing Edmonton is right there, close, it does make it a good feeling, knowing we were close and we had a successful season. There were a lot of ups and downs, but every season's like that whether you win or lose at the end. Being able to play with such a great group of guys, it made it memorable and special, for sure, to be able to go out not quite on top, but knowing it was a great run with a lot of great memories. Third round, it's a lot of hockey, and it was a lot of fun this past year." Keith put up just one goal all season - the fewest of any season in his NHL career - but had 20 helpers for 21 points in his 64 games played. He added a goal and five points in 16 postseason contests. Originally a second round pick from the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Keith finished his career with 646 points (106 goals, 540 assists) in 1,256 regular-season games with the Blackhawks and Oilers, and 91 points (19 goals, 72 assists) in 151 playoff games. He won three Stanley Cups in Chicago and was named the 2015 Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP. But now, his priorities have changed. "I still love the game, always will, but with the change and getting older, and the thought of being around my son more and being around him and his hockey, being able to help my brother coach our boys and his daughter, more and more it got closer to that and the more excited I became about that thought," he said.