Keith has missed the last nine games after suffering a groin injury on Nov. 29 against the Colorado Avalanche.
Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith returned to practice on Monday morning after skating on his own the previous few days. Keith told reports after practice that he hopes to play Wednesday against the Avalanche, but the team is taking it day by day.
“It’s weird sitting out like that and forced to watch but been rehabbing and feeling good and better and better every day,” Keith said. “You definitely get a different perspective watching. It’s always easier when you’re watching, but it’s tough.”
The Blackhawks’ workhorse defenseman hasn’t spent much time out of the lineup in his career. Keith has missed just 31 games over the last seven years, with 15 of those coming in 2015-16 (five due to suspension). Keith’s nine-game absence has been one of the lengthiest in his 15 NHL seasons.
The two-time Norris Trophy winner opened up about the injury to reporters after practice. Keith’s last shift came in the second period after being torched in transition for a breakaway goal by Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin.
“It had been sore and the shift before that I felt a pop and I thought maybe I could play because I’d been playing through one on the right side for a while,” Keith said. “On that play I thought maybe I could give it a try and then that guy Nichushkin blew out of the gate there and I couldn’t do anything, I couldn’t move.”
The Blackhawks are 3-5-1 since Keith’s injury and will welcome him back to the lineup with open arms. With fellow veteran defenseman Calvin de Haan also currently out of the lineup, the Hawks have struggled mightily in the defensive zone as of late. In the nine games Keith’s been out, they’ve allowed 36 goals (four per game) and held opponents under three goals just once. Keith’s return will certainly help in that department.
With the Hawks defense shorthanded, Dennis Gilbert and Adam Boqvist have received extended roles in recent games. Slater Koekkoek continues to be the healthy scratch more often than not, but upon Keith’s return, it’s unlikely that Koekkoek is the odd man out of the group. The Blackhawks recently burned the first year of Boqvist’s entry-level contract, giving him that advantage to remain with the team for the long run. Once Keith returns, Gilbert is the likely choice to return to Rockford.
For more Blackhawks news and updates, follow the author (@JackBushman2) on Twitter. Make sure to check out the author’s podcast, Talkin’ Hawkey, which can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Twitter (@TalkinHawkey).
