The Oilers are apparently interested in Duncan Keith

It looks like Duncan Keith’s time in Chicago is coming to an end.

The Blackhawks are reportedly working to move the three-time Stanley Cup champion and two-time Norris Trophy winner this off-season. Word is that Keith would like to move closer to his home in the Okanagan, so a team in Western Canada makes sense.

According to a report out of the Edmonton Journal, the Edmonton Oilers are interested in adding the veteran defenceman as a contingency plan as the status of @Oscar Klefbom remains up in the air. Klefbom had shoulder surgery and missed all of 2021 and it’s likely he won’t be ready for the start of the 2021-22 season.

Keith played 54 games for Chicago last season and scored four goals and 15 points. He was in the red in terms of on-ice shot differential at 973-to-791 and in terms of goal differential at 48-to-37. Among the 111 defencemen who played at least 750 minutes at even-strength last season, Keith had the worst expected goals for percentage on the list.

There’s reason to believe that Keith could be effective if he plays in a more limited role, but there’s certainly a risk involved given he turns 38 years old in a couple of weeks. Keith also carries a $5,538,462 cap hit over the next two seasons, so the Oilers would surely ask for Chicago to either retain salary or take back a problematic contract, such as @James Neal.