Patrick Kane may now be donning the Detroit Red Wings jersey, but he will always be remembered as a Chicago Blackhawks legend. Thus, after Duncan Keith’s NHL Hall of Fame induction, the three-time Stanley Cup champion voiced a strong message about his former teammate.
Keith became the 48th player in Blackhawks history to be inducted to the Hall of Fame, as reported by Blackhawks.com. Chicago has had no shortage of elite talents, and Keith was one key piece to the Hawks glorious run in the 2010s.
Keith is Chicago’s all-time leader in games played (1,192) as a defenseman. He ranks second in assists (520) and points (625), and third in goals (105) in his position. Most importantly, the former second-round selection in the 2002 NHL entry Draft rose to the occasion in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, registering 86 points in the postseason.
After hoisting the Cup three times in Chicago, Keith was inducted to the Hall of Fame, as the class of 2025 was announced on Tuesday. Following his former teammate’s induction, Kane delivered a sincere admission.
Duncan Keith #2 of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrates his first period goal while playing the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on April 15, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan.
“Ultimate competitor. He was the engine for our teams that had so much success,” Kane texted The Athletic’s Scott Powers. “Two Norris trophies, a Conn Smythe, and three Stanley Cups. Not surprised he was elected. Incredible career.”
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Keith reflects on HOF career
While few fans or players were surprised to see Keith’s name in the 2025 class, it may have been the defenseman himself who was most taken aback by the announcement.
“[I got] goosebumps when they started telling me,” Keith stated, via Chicago Sun-Times. “It was a pretty surreal moment, sitting in my living room here, knowing that I’m going into the Hall of Fame with players that I grew up idolizing and trying to emulate.”
Giving props
Keith was—as Kane said—“the ultimate competitor”, and his impact was felt both on and off the ice. Following his 17-season NHL career, the blueliner had one wish for his legacy in the league.
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“I hope my teammates and coaches would say I was a good teammate that they liked going to battle with—somebody they would want to have on their side any time [we were] going into a big game or a tough situation. Having such great teammates, we all pushed one another to get better.”
