Warm welcome back as Keith returns to United Center and Hawks roll out red carpet
When the Edmonton Oilers arrived at the United Center for practice Wednesday, the team's assistant equipment manager asked Duncan Keith to hang back for a moment to sign a pair of gloves.
As Brad Harrison stalled Keith for as long as possible, the rest of the Oilers hustled to the hallway that leads to the visiting dressing room and grabbed their sticks.
As Keith rounded the corner, he saw what can best be described as a Tunnel of Clapping Hockey Sticks. Wide smiles were everywhere, a huge No. 2 was taped to the door and a red carpet was laid out in front of Keith's stall.
Yes, Keith was back where it all began - only this time as a foe to a Blackhawks franchise he helped lead to Stanley Cup titles in 2010, '13 and '15.
"I didn't know that was coming," Keith said hours before the Hawks defeated the Oilers 4-3 in OT on Thursday. "It was a nice little welcoming from the team. Obviously we've got a close group here, a tight team. It's been fun being a part of. It was kind of weird walking in for sure."
Last off-season, Keith told then-general manager Stan Bowman that he'd waive his no-trade clause with the hopes the Hawks could move him closer to his 8-year-old son, Colton. Bowman made it happen by sending the two-time Norris Trophy winner to the Oilers in exchange for defenseman Caleb Jones and a conditional third-round pick in 2022.
"It was definitely a unique feeling," Keith said of putting an Oilers sweater on for the first time. "Thought I was going to be a Hawk my whole career. Obviously things change. I'm happy where I'm at."
Instead of an eight-hour trip (that included a three-hour layover) from Chicago, Keith now has just a one-hour flight when he wants to see Colton in Penticton, British Columbia. Colton has been able to come to Edmonton for games as well.
"He likes having his dad closer to him and being back in Canada," Keith said. "That's what it's all about."
Thursday's game was doubly special because the Hawks honored Niklas Hjalmarsson with a pregame ceremony as a part of their Legacy Nights. The former Hawks D-man was a teammate of Keith's for all three Stanley Cup runs. Die-hard fans no doubt remember Hjalmarsson was moved to tears when he saw his tribute video during his first game back to the UC with the Arizona Coyotes.
It affected Hjalmarsson so deeply that he had to miss a shift.
Keith seemed to have a similar reaction during his video, which was played during the first period. When it was over, fans exploded with applause when the 38-year-old hopped off the bench and onto the ice to salute the UC faithful.
"I'm just excited to be back," said Keith, who tossed five pucks into the stands during warmups, three of which went to kids wearing his No. 2 Blackhawks jersey. "It's gonna be a cool moment being back here and being on the ice. It's gonna be a little different being in the other team's locker room. But that's the way it goes.
It was certainly an eventful couple of days for Keith, who went out to dinner with Jonathan Toews and Kirby Dach on Wednesday.
"It was good to catch up with him a little bit last night," Toews said. "He's a guy I like to keep up with at times and FaceTime and see how he's doing. Just another old friend that I love talking to about everything, including the game. ...
"A little bit strange to see a guy like him who's a pillar of this team and a Hall of Famer and just the career that he had, coming into the United Center playing for a different team."
A few years ago Keith told us he might do a Tom Brady and play into his mid-40s. So does he still feel that way now?
"Take it one year at a time," he said. "I enjoy playing - I still feel excitement coming to the rink. It's fun making memories with my son and him being a part of it.
"We've got a great chance to do some damage here coming down the stretch. A lot of great players, obviously with (Connor) McDavid, (Leon) Draisaitl, (Darnell) Nurse.
"It's been good."