People are severely underrating Keith in this thread. He’s been one of the league’s best defensemen over the past decade, and one down year doesn’t change that. Sure, he’s turning 35 and probably isn’t the same player he was 5 years ago, but he’s still a top pairing defenseman in my books. Also, in terms of him declining early, he’s the typical player who remains effective into their late 30s: his game relies on his smarts, so unless he’s diagnosed with early onset dementia, he won’t be losing that hockey IQ anytime soon.
Take a look at his track record: 3 time Stanley Cup champion, 2 time Olympic Gold medalist, 2 time Norris winner, Conn Smythe winner.
For a team looking to contend for the next several years, Keith would be a fantastic addition given his cap hit of $5.5 million, which is not outrageous, and the fact that the cap recapture penalty falls solely on Chicago and not the team acquiring him.
