{"id":630112,"date":"2026-07-24T15:03:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T15:03:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/630112\/"},"modified":"2026-07-24T15:03:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T15:03:14","slug":"revisiting-the-oilers-blackhawks-duncan-keith-trade-the-hockey-writers-edmonton-oilers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/630112\/","title":{"rendered":"Revisiting the Oilers & Blackhawks Duncan Keith Trade – The Hockey Writers – Edmonton Oilers"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Chicago Blackhawks and Edmonton Oilers were in different positions following the 2020-21 NHL season. The Blackhawks were looking to retool a squad of both young and old players to try and make things work, while the Oilers were gearing up to finally make a deep run. Both teams needed a change on their blue line, with Chicago\u2019s getting older and Edmonton\u2019s lacking real experience. Enter a trade in mid-July.<\/p>\n

On July 12, 2021, the teams completed a trade<\/a> sending Duncan Keith<\/a> and prospect Tim Soderlund to the Oilers in exchange for Caleb Jones<\/a> and a conditional third-round pick. The conditions on the pick relied on Keith and the Oilers\u2019 success, but that ultimately didn\u2019t matter as the Blackhawks would later flip the pick in a separate deal.<\/p>\n

Keith joined the Oilers with three Stanley Cups, two Norris Trophys, and a Conn Smythe under his belt among other honours. He had a lot of years on him, but the Oilers hoped he could provide guidance and a little of that Norris-esque play to the back end. Meanwhile, Jones joined a young Blackhawks team with lots of stars up front. He came in hoping to prove himself as a young defenseman in a new home.<\/p>\n

Blackhawks Receive Caleb Jones, Pick<\/p>\n

Jones got into 51 games his first season in Chicago, posting 15 points. He played third pairing minutes and had solid numbers across the board. It was his second season that was really a breakout.<\/p>\n

\"CalebCaleb Jones, former Chicago Blackhawk (Amy Irvin<\/a> \/ The Hockey Writers)<\/p>\n

He scored a career-high-16 points in 73 games in 2022-23. His ice time jumped up from just under 17 minutes per game to over 19 minutes<\/a>. He was a minus-19, but that comes with the territory. He racked up career-highs in blocked shots with 118 and in hits with 116. His tendency to give the puck away showed here and there, but overall the numbers looked very good in that season with the \u2018Hawks. He proved to be a real asset in the trade.<\/p>\n

After his second season in Chicago is when things unfortunately started to go downhill a little. He spent 2023-24 between the Colorado Avalanche and their AHL team, then the next season with the LA Kings and their farm team, and then last season he played just seven games with the Pittsburgh Penguins and one with their AHL squad. He has faced multiple injuries and a 20-game suspension<\/a> this past winter for PEDs as well.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s under contract for 2026-27 with Pittsburgh, so here\u2019s to hoping he can find some success like he had with Chicago. It has been a wild ride ever since the trade over five years ago.<\/p>\n

Oilers Pick Up Keith & Prospect<\/p>\n

Keith\u2019s results following the trade are much more short and simple than Jones\u2019. The 2021-22 season saw him playing up and down in the lineup, averaging 19:44 of ice time<\/a>. He put up 21 points in 64 games. Most of his numbers were down from usual, but that\u2019s a given with a defenseman playing in his 17th season. He still registered 114 blocks and was a plus-15.<\/p>\n

\"DuncanDuncan Keith, Edmonton Oilers (Amy Irvin<\/a> \/ The Hockey Writers)<\/p>\n

Keith was valuable in his role as a veteran leader and intelligent, 200-foot point man. He wasn\u2019t the quickest player on the ice, but he saw the game extremely well and played important minutes for Edmonton. The team made a run in the postseason, but was ultimately swept by the Avalanche in the Western Conference Final. Nonetheless, Keith made an impact<\/a> and helped the team get its mojo back in the playoffs.<\/p>\n

As for the other piece in this trade, there isn\u2019t much to say. Soderlund played just seven games with the Oilers\u2019 AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, registering 0 points. He would eventually be sent down to the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), before heading back overseas where he played before being drafted.<\/p>\n

Blackhawks or Oilers: Who Won This Trade?<\/p>\n

This is a tough call. The Oilers got one last season out of the Hall of Fame defender in Keith and made it to the Western Conference Final in his only season there. On the other hand, Chicago seemed to bring out the best in Jones despite the unfortunate fallout ever since.<\/p>\n

Call me biased, but I\u2019m ruling slightly in favour of Edmonton here. They had Keith help mentor their future number one blue liner in Evan Bouchard and as I mentioned, he helped push them over the hump in the playoffs and that\u2019s still important for the core group they have now. Jones had a couple solid seasons with the \u2018Hawks, but he didn\u2019t stick around and he hasn\u2019t panned out like everyone once thought he might.<\/p>\n

Five years later: Advantage Oilers.<\/p>\n

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