The Chicago Blackhawks tepid start just got a little worse.
Chicago will be without top defenseman, Duncan Keith for 4-6 weeks. Last seasons Conn Smythe winner suffered a mensical tear that required surgical intervention on his right knee.
Duncan Keith undergoes successful surgery to repair a right knee meniscal tear. https://t.co/9CigUGFtrJ
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 20, 2015
“With Kane’s injury you missed a big chunk of your offense,” Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “With Keith, it’s almost like you miss both parts of your game. So I don’t think you want to overemphasize one area. I think we’re going to have to be strong in our total team game.”
The defending Stanley Cup champions are struggling to start the season, starting 3-3-0 (6 pts).
Chicago will have to replace Keith’s stamina, as well as his presence as a locker room leader. Keith logged the most minutes of any player in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs (715:37). He also scored the winning goal to seal the Cup against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Without Keith, it leaves the Blackhawks with a depleted core, and young defensive group.
With veteran Michal Rosival out as well, Chicago’s top defensive pair will need Brent Seabrook and Viktor Svedberg to log more minutes than usual, coming up.
Newly acquired Trevor Daley, included in the Dallas Stars trade for Patrick Sharp, is becoming a familiar face. He’ll need to help the young guys like Trevor van Riemsdyk, David Rundblad, and Kyle Cumiskey.
Rundblad who’s been a healthy scratch the last five games will have a lot more pressure on his shoulders.
“It’s a big opportunity for me to be playing,” said Rundblad. “It’s been tough not playing these last games, so I’m excited for this opportunity. It’s never fun to see a teammate get hurt, but I’ve just got to do with the situation and just play my best.”
It remains to be seen whether the Hawks will go after a free agent such as Jan Hedja or Lubomir Visnovsky (both of whom participated in the Hawks training camp), or perhaps place Keith on the LTIR, or test out the trade market for a suitable replacement. Both remain possibilities.
