Blackhawks trade Keith to Oilers for Jones, conditional 3rd-rounder

The Chicago Blackhawks dealt franchise icon Duncan Keith and forward prospect Tim Soderlund to the Edmonton Oilers for defenseman Caleb Jones and a conditional third-round draft pick in 2022, the teams announced Monday.

If the Oilers win three rounds in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs and Keith is among the top-four defensemen on the team in total ice time, the pick turns into a second-rounder.

The Blackhawks aren't retaining any salary in the deal. Keith, who turns 38 later this week, has two years left on his contract with an annual cap hit of $5.54 million, per CapFriendly. His deal includes a full no-movement clause, so Keith will have to be protected in the upcoming expansion draft unless he agrees to waive it.

Keith had reportedly expressed a desire to be closer to his family in Penticton, British Columbia, after 16 seasons in the Windy City.

The future Hall of Famer has shown serious signs of decline recently. He recorded 15 points in 54 games during the 2020-21 season while averaging 23:25 per contest. The underlying numbers were poor as well, especially on the defensive side of the puck.

However, Keith brings plenty of intangibles to the table. He's won three Stanley Cups, two Norris Trophies, a Conn Smythe Trophy, and two Olympic gold medals in his storied career.

After spending the bulk of his career as a first-pairing defender, Keith projects to slot in on the left side of Edmonton's second unit behind Darnell Nurse. Fellow Oilers blue-liners Ethan Bear, Kris Russell, and Evan Bouchard remain under contract, while Tyson Barrie, Adam Larsson, and Dmitry Kulikov are unrestricted free agents.

Jones has registered five goals and 14 assists in 93 career NHL games over three seasons. The 24-year-old has one year left on his deal with an $850,000 cap hit. He'll become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights in 2022.

The Blackhawks, who now project to have over $15 million in cap space, are reportedly in the market for an elite defenseman. Seth Jones, Caleb's older brother, and pending UFA Dougie Hamilton are the two big-name rearguards known to be available for trade.