Duncan Keith's Case To Be "Most Underrated Blackhawk"

When you first sit down to think about underrated players, what are the qualities that come to mind? Quiet, workman type guys are immediately considered. Guys who don't shine on the statsheet, but are leaders on and off the ice are also in the mix. But when you mix these two qualities together, and add in a good helping of penalty killing prowess and tape-to-tape miracle working, you get one player: Duncan Keith.

Now I know that Mr. Keith was an All-Star last year, and the argument can be made that a player can't be underrated if they are an All-Star. However, when you sift through many magazines that cover hockey, you can't help but notice that they are dominated by flashy players like Ovechkin, Crosby, and the like. Duncan Keith is not that type of player.

He's the math geek who will one day be richer than you, but is a total nerd weirdo right now. He's the girl at work who goes from repugnant one day to radiant the next. Keith's prowess may not jump out in the stat columns that most fans pay attention to when evaluating players (goals, assists), but his impact is felt on the ice and off.

For instance, he led the Blackhawks last season with a +30. That is an impressive number for a defenseman, and is even more impressive considering the fact that he played for a team that scored only four more goals than it allowed last year. It also was +17 better than second place defenseman Brent Seabrook. It also indicates that when he is on the ice, good things happen. His 32 points, which led the team's defensive corps, attest to that.

He was also one of only three Hawks (Seabrook and Kane were the other two) to play in all 82 games last year. In fact, in his career, he has missed a grand total of one game in four NHL seasons. That is quite a feat for a man playing a position as demanding as defenseman.

This season, he already has seven points in 13 games, which puts him on a pace to get 44, which would be a new career high. With the arrival on the scene of Brian Campbell, Keith's name is once again being shoved into the background in the team photo, but his impact is just as real.

His other big area of contribution is his ice time. He led the team last season with an average TOI of 25:33, which was over four minutes more than runner-up in that category Brent Seabrook. He was also fifth on the team in penalty minutes with 56, another example of his versatility.

Perhaps his biggest asset is his ability on the penalty kill. You don't get a +30 by merely being a presence on the ice when you are at even strength. You get it by being deft on the PK and quick on the power play. Duncan Keith was both last season, coupling an uncanny ability to strip and clear the puck with ease with a keen eye for helping teammates get good scoring opportunities.

With all of these skills and attributes in mind, I beseech you my fellow hockey fans: please do not overlook the contributions of one of the most underrated defensemen in the National Hockey League today. When you go to games, proudly cheer for the man with the "A" on his chest and the number "2" emblazoned on his back, and remember: "The Blackhawks Run on Duncan."