1 hour ago
2
ARTICLE AD BOX
Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
When the Hockey Hall of Fame welcomes its newest class in Toronto on Monday, Duncan Keith will take his place among the sport’s immortals. The three-time Stanley Cup champion and two-time Norris Trophy winner is being inducted on the first ballot — a fitting honor for one of hockey’s most complete defensemen.
Speaking to NHL.com this week from Calgary, where he now works as part of the Flames’ player development staff, former teammate Brent Seabrook reflected on Keith’s legacy, their long partnership in Chicago, and the friendship that endures long after their final shift together.
How Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook built a championship partnership
Seabrook first crossed paths with Duncan Keith at a Chicago Blackhawks training camp in the early 2000s. “I think I first met Duncan at a Blackhawks training camp,” Seabrook recalled.
“He was a Blackhawks second-round draft pick in 2002, and I was following him as a first-round draft pick in 2003.” He remembered being impressed even before they became teammates. “In 2002-03 when I was at Lethbridge of the Western Hockey League, I think I was up by 30 points on him because he hadn’t played a game yet with Kelowna.
By the end of the season, he beat me. I had 42 points in 69 games, and he had 46 points in 37 games.
So, I was like, ‘Wow, is this kid good.’”Their on-ice partnership began in the 2005–06 season when both were competing for roster spots with the rebuilding Blackhawks. “Coach Trent Yawney wanted a righty and a lefty, and we were opposites, we both made the team, and they told us to live together,” Seabrook said. “That was the start of our relationship, and we just sort of built it from there.”
From that point forward, the chemistry between the two blueliners became one of the cornerstones of Chicago’s rise to dynasty status.
“It’s like any relationship: opposites attract,” Seabrook explained. “We had common goals in mind and wanted to be as best we could, and we thought the game alike and we meshed well together.”
Brent Seabrook on the bond that defined Duncan Keith’s Hall of Fame legacy
Over their 15 seasons together in Chicago, Keith’s quickness and Seabrook’s physicality complemented each other perfectly. “There were definitely two different skill sets, me being a bigger guy and him being a quicker guy,” Seabrook said.
“You can’t say he’s small because he’ll correct you pretty quick, so I won’t say that, but he used his speed and his quickness, and I sort of used my body more, so that was a good combo.
”The pair communicated constantly about matchups and defensive strategy, even off the ice. “We also thought the game the same way,” Seabrook said. “We had a lot of conversations about playing against a certain player or a certain forward line.
Like, ‘Hey let's not care about offense. Let's just defend it and get out of the zone, get out of it.’ … In hotel rooms we had a lot of nights where we'd chat a lot. It helped having a guy who thought the same way as myself.
”That connection only deepened over the years. “With ‘Dunc,’ being a close friend the last five years since retirement, we live pretty close to each other in the winters. Our kids play hockey together so it's definitely a great relationship and one I'm very thankful for,” Seabrook said.
Duncan Keith’s Hall of Fame moment reflects the humility that defined his career
Even as Keith prepares to join hockey’s most elite group, Seabrook said his former teammate’s humility remains unchanged. “When I talked to him there the day before he was selected, he said, ‘I don't know if I'll be in there on the first ballot,’” Seabrook said. “That's just the guy he is.”Having attended Marian Hossa’s induction in the past, Seabrook knows what awaits Keith. “It's pretty neat what they do and I'm sure once Dunc gets there, he'll be blown away at what's going on and maybe look back and realize everything he accomplished,” he said.Reflecting on his friend’s career, Seabrook summed up his pride simply: “He was one of the best defensemen in the League for 17 years and obviously he's a great person and a great guy and an amazing hockey player, super competitive and just awesome. I'm pumped for him and I'm really proud of him and he definitely deserves it.”From their first training camp battles to three Stanley Cup championships and beyond, Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith forged one of hockey’s most enduring partnerships. As Keith takes his rightful place in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Seabrook’s words capture what statistics cannot — the bond, respect, and humility that defined a generation of Chicago Blackhawks greatness.Also Read: Jalen Luypen joins South Carolina Stingrays after leaving Chicago Blackhawks system bringing pro experience and playoff pedigree
English (US) ·