Duncan Keith: Fierce Competitor, or Dirty Player?

Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Duncan Keith: Fierce competitor or dirty player?

Both. But more of the latter as time goes on.

With three Stanley Cups, two Olympic gold medals, two Norris trophies and a Conn Smythe Trophy, Keith has as good a resume as there is in hockey today. And when the conversation begins about the game's best defenceman, he gets plenty of airtime. 

But Tuesday’s slash to the face of Minnesota Wild forward Charlie Coyle had nothing to do with competition. It was simply reckless and vicious. The act of a dirty player who should be treated as such by the National Hockey League's player safety department.

Some will point to the playoffs - five games away for the Blackhawks - and say that any suspension Keith gets should end before the second season begins. 

Nope. 

It’s Keith’s responsibility to control his temper and his stick and he should pay the price regardless of timing. He certainly shouldn’t play over the Blackhawks' five remaining regular season games and sitting him out for a number of playoff games should be part of the parcel handed out by the league.
 
The notion that playoff games count more than regular season games defies logic. An injury doesn’t heal any faster in the playoffs than the regular season. The clock doesn’t speed up in the playoffs.

Sure, playoff games are more valuable to players. And they should take that into account before they use their stick like a windshield wiper on an opponent's face.

How many games will Keith get for ugly slash?

Duncan Keith recklessly slashed Charlie Coyle in the face with his stick. He received a match penalty for the infraction and TH2N explains how long they believe he'll be suspended.

Top end players such as Keith often get a pass for the odd elbow or high stick under the guise of making room for themselves. Fair enough - the best players shouldn’t be slowed down by the second tier and if the interference or late hits start to effect a star’s ability to shine, eliminating such liberties is part of pro hockey. Play with the bull, prepare to get the horn.

But Keith’s swipe at Coyle - who returned to the game and didn’t appear to suffer a serious injury - was a result of the veteran blueliner boiling over and having no respect for his opponent. He swung the stick with one hand and had no control or concern over where it landed and what damage was inflicted. It was the dirtiest of plays. Coyle could have lost his teeth or even an eye. Keith is lucky he didn’t wake up this morning to the cold reality he had permanently disfigured one of his union brothers.

The Blackhawks pay Keith a lot of money to play hockey and he's proven he’s worth it as a tireless skater with elite hockey sense and vision. There's very little he can’t do on the ice. He might be Chicago’s most important player. 

Keith has been suspended previously, five games for an elbow to the head of Vancouver Canucks forward Daniel Sedin and one for slashing Los Angeles Kings forward Jeff Carter. And  historically, he's been referred to as an elite player with an edge. One that opponents tip-toed around because he was unpredictable and if crossed, could snap. It makes Keith more valuable.

Button: Keith deserves to be suspended into the playoffs

TSN's Craig Button joined Dean to discuss Duncan Keith's slash to the face of Charlie Coyle and to take a look around the night in the NHL.

But Tuesday’s actions, and the suspension to follow, changes that narrative.
 
This morning, Duncan Keith is a dirty player. A selfish player and one the Blackhawks shouldn’t be able to count on when they begin their bid for a fourth Stanley Cup in seven years.

Who wants to be known as that kind of player?