Crimson-JH Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 From NHL.com The Chicago Blackhawks have a couple of injured players who may or may not be ready to return on Thursday in Minnesota, but one of them isn't star defenseman Duncan Keith. Keith's return from a five-game suspension against the Wild is a sure thing after sitting out for elbowing Vancouver's Daniel Sedin in the head during Chicago's 2-1 overtime win on March 21 at the United Center. "It's been awhile, five games, but it's gone by quick, too," Keith said after Tuesday's practice. "I'm looking forward to getting back and helping the team here in the last couple games and the playoffs." Quenneville said that Keith will slide back into his usual spot on the top pairing with Brent Seabrook, while Niklas Hjalmarsson will likely go back to the third pair with rookie Dylan Olsen after playing well in Keith's absence. "It was tough," Keith said of sitting out. "Obviously you want to be out there playing and helping the guys. They did a great job and played well. We've been playing well for a long time now, I think. I just want to help out and keep it going." Keith declined to comment on Sedin's condition -- which is said to be concussion-related -- or about the incident itself. Chicago went 2-1-2 in the games Keith missed, but it might turn out to actually help the speedy, puck-moving defenseman for the playoffs. Keith, the 2010 Norris Trophy winner, usually logs the most minutes in the League each season and is again right at the top at 26:53 -- behind only former Hawks teammate Brian Campbell (26:55). It was suggested that fatigue from all that skating might've caught up with Keith last season and even stretching into this one, but he's always denied it. However, Keith didn't downplay the potential importance of the time off he just received -- which, per the current collective bargaining agreement, also cost him $149,688.15 in foreited salary to the Player's Emergency Assistance Fund. "I don't think taking a suspension is ever a good thing, but you know, I think if you're looking at it and trying to look for the positives ... I guess getting some rest at this time of year would probably be beneficial in that regard," Keith said. "I didn't feel like I needed rest. I've been able to play a lot of games every year, so I don't feel that's a reason or anything why I need rest. I feel good and I feel stronger than I was before, so hopefully it pays off." Meanwhile, he had quite a bit of unexpected down time the past couple weeks. What did Keith do with it all? "I just worked out and not a whole lot (else)," he said. "I walked the dogs a lot." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marleau_12 Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 Heads up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NuckNuckNucks Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 Wow. The guy is just classless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toews Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 Wow. The guy is just classless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogbyte Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 Reminds me of something the coach said in the summit series 72 to Bobby Clarke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogbyte Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 How so? He was just looking at the positives of a pretty bad situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edler0023 Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 Frack Keith, we all knew that at the end of it he'd 'find the positives' of this suspension right before the playoffs. I wonder if he contacted Daniel? I can't remember what player of what team it was ...upset about not recieving a text message or something? They were showing the replay of the elbow on TSN when they were talking about Daniel couple days ago, frack, had forgotten how brutal it was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurtlindin Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 When a player gets suspended, he should not only be suspended for the next X amount of games, but also be suspended for the same amount of games against the team in which he incurred the penalty...5 games for Keith, but he should also be suspended for the next 5 games against Vancouver, playoffs or not...Would he have given that elbow if it would cost him 5 games in a playoff series? Not being a homer here, I always thought it was unfair to the team losing a player and the next time the two teams play the suspended player is back in the line-up... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddhas Hand Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 i watched a kid i grew up with die on the football [aussie rules ]field due to the actions of a player whose only intent was to hurt /injure him , i believe keith should have paid a far higher price for his actions , not because i am a canucks fan , but because i have seen the worst possible outcome when the persons intent is only to hurt /injure . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeyJoeJoeJr. Shabadoo Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 Well I guess he learned his lesson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldnews Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 Shanahan went soft on Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck or Die Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 Someone needs to drill that idiot through the boards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Ed Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 Someone needs to drill that idiot through the boards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GodzillaDeuce Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 nothing wrong with what he said Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theo5789 Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 Shanahan went soft on Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Real deal - Stan Smyl Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 Grapes said it best ... Sedin went looking for trouble and he found it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SixtyEight Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 Keith is a pretty ugly dude after all.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimberWolf Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 Grapes said it best ... Sedin went looking for trouble and he found it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unbridled_id Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 Welcome back Duncs.... We need you though O-do-yah filled in the gap nicely. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA8OmK3qslw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Real deal - Stan Smyl Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 Funny, I don't recall media saying "Well Steve Moore went looking for trouble and he found it" If you support Keith's attempt to injure, you support Berts suckerpunch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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