The release of the NHL Quarter-Century team has stirred up some conversations among Chicago Blackhawks fans. While Patrick Kane deservedly made the list, one name left off that feels like a big snub is Duncan Keith.
Keith played 17 seasons, 16 of them with the Blackhawks, and was a centerpiece of the 2010-2015 dynasty that brought three Stanley Cups to Chicago. He was named one of the top 100 greatest players in NHL history in 2017. His career comes back into focus with him not only being snubbed from the Quarter-Century team, but he could be the next Blackhawk to get his number retired based on his resume and eligibility.
Another guy in that mix is his former blue line counterpart, Brent Seabrook. Like Keith, he was a core piece of that run and played 15 years in Chicago and came up huge in playoff games. Keith and Seabrook led the Blackhawks defense together from 2005-2006 through 2019-2020.
One could ask, how do their legacies compare to each other in Chicago?
Evaluating the careers of both Chicago Blackhawks legends
Both men had phenomenal careers, and the Blackhawks don’t win those three cups in six seasons without either of them. Combined in Chicago, they posted 208 goals and 1,089 points in 2,306 regular season games in addition to 38 playoff goals and 145 playoff points. Keith is second on the Blackhawks all-time games played list (1,192) behind Stan Mikita, Seabrook is fourth (1,114). They were also teammates on the 2010 Canadian Olympic team, which won the Gold.
Absolutely no disrespect to Seabrook, but in terms of who was a better player, it was Keith. He was the winner of two Norris Trophies and the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2015. Keith is also top 30 in assists (540) by a defenseman in NHL history and top 40 in points (646) by a defenseman all-time. Since 2005, Keith has logged the fourth-most ice time by any NHL player (30,993:40). That is a Hall of Fame-worthy resume, and he’s arguably the second or third-best Blackhawks defenseman ever behind Chris Chelios and maybe Doug Wilson.
Make no mistake, Seabrook’s numbers were not shabby. His 464 points are sixth on the all-time Blackhawks defenseman list and is fourth in goals (103) among all Chicago blue liners. Having made an Olympic team, an All Star team, he got his flowers as a player. But do career awards and stats solidify both guys’ legacies?
Remembering their biggest playoff moments with the Chicago Blackhawks
Keith did so much to carry the team in 2015, scoring two game-winning goals in the first round against Nashville and the ultimate cup-winner in game 6 against the Lightning. He was the unanimous Conn Smythe winner, and few disagreed with that decision.
Seabrook was a huge contributor during the historic 2013 run. Everyone remembers where they were when Seabrook scored the overtime goal against the Detroit Red Wings in game 7 of the second round. Not only was that one of the best moments in Chicago Blackhawks history, but also one of the best in the century of Chicago sports. For years, the Blackhawks sat in the shadows as the Red Wings had all the glory, and that era of dominance more or less ended when Seabrook wristed that puck past Jimmy Howard.
It’s worth noting that Seabrook’s three career playoff overtime goals are tied for second in Blackhawks history with Jeremy Roenick, only trailing Kane. Another notable one he had was in game 4 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals in Boston to tie the series.
Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook are celebrated in their own way.
In the end, both players are loved for their contributions. Keith was the overall better player, but Seabrook delivered some huge moments. One can weigh the two and decide who had the bigger legacy in Chicago, while acknowledging both were detrimental to the franchise, regardless of who they liked better.
Some can probably say they cannot pick one or the other, which is understandable. Both boast the legacy of being catalysts in a dynasty in a major market, and that will be remembered for a very long time. It was more than just two great players, it was a dynamic duo.
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