Michigan State's Keith Retires after 17 NHL Seasons

Former NCAA defenseman Duncan Keith (Michigan State) has hung up his professional skates for good. The Winnipeg native, who skated 17 seasons in the NHL and won three Stanley Cups, has called it a playing career after 1,256 regular-season contests and 151 Stanley Cup Playoff appearances.

Keith, 38, played 16 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, before spending the 2021-22 campaign with Edmonton, where he helped the Oilers to the Western Conference final for the first time since 2006. He finished with 106 goals and 540 assists for 646 points in NHL regular-season competition, while adding 19-72⁠—91 points in postseason play. 

Keith was a member of Chicago's Stanley Cup championship teams in 2010, 2013, and 2015, and was also the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP in 2015 after recording three goals and 21 points in 23 playoff games that spring. He also served as an assistant captain from 2007 to 2021 for the Blackhawks, who prior to 2010 had not won the Cup since 1961.

After playing two years of junior hockey with Penticton (BCHL), Keith skated in 56 games over two years with Michigan State, including the outdoor Cold War contest in fall 2001 at Spartan Stadium. He had six goals and 24 points in his short time with the Spartans, before joining Kelowna (WHL) for the remainder of the 2002-03 campaign, where he tallied 11-35⁠—46 points in 37 outings while also helping the Rockets to a Memorial Cup berth. 

Drafted 54th overall by Chicago after his freshman year at MSU, he spent two seasons with Norfolk (AHL), registering 16-35⁠—51 points in all in regular-season action. He then moved up to the NHL for good in 2005-06.

A two-time winner of the Norris Trophy (2010, 2014) as the NHL's best defenseman, Keith also represented his native Canada several times in international competition, twice at the World Championships and twice at the Olympic Winter Games. He was also a member of Canada's Olympic gold medal squads in both 2010 and 2014.