Blackhawks' Duncan Keith Cleared For Contact, 'Close' To A Return
By Chris Emma--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Optional skates are a luxury in the long, grueling hockey season, a rest for those in need. They tend to be rare, too.
For Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith, Tuesday's optional skate at the United Center was another step toward an early return in his recovery from a torn meniscus in his right knee. Keith was flying around the ice, looking ready for action. He could play as early as this weekend.
"He's close," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said.
Keith's final step in a recovery will be taking the ice for contact drills. He's been cleared for contact but didn't have any teammates to provide contact Tuesday.
So, there was Keith on the ice, putting his footwork on display. His conditioning appeared to be fine, which is no surprise for a premier athlete like him. He was just thrilled to be back in action.
"Any time you get on the ice, get moving again, push the pace a little bit more, it feels good," Keith said.
On Oct. 20, Keith underwent surgery to repair the torn meniscus, and the Blackhawks ruled him out for four to six weeks. If Keith is able to return for Saturday's game in St. Louis, he will have returned a few day before the four-week mark for his recovery. Chicago also hosts Calgary on Sunday.
Has it been hard for Keith to resist the urge of pushing his recovery too hard?
"I'm trying to push it every day and feel good," Keith replied.
"It's just a meniscus. It's not getting my leg amputated."
Keith, 32, has earned the reputation of a physical freak. He more often than not leads each game in ice time, becoming the reliable force on the blue line who Quenneville can count on. He earned the Conn Smythe Award last season for his tremendous work in leading the Blackhawks to their third hoist of the Stanley Cup in six seasons. In the Game 6 clincher, he logged 30:19 on the ice -- more than half the game.
The Blackhawks have missed the steady presence of Keith, attempting to fill his void with rookies like Viktor Svedberg and Erik Gustafsson, plus putting an extra emphasis on their puck-possession strategy, a Quenneville staple. Chicago has tried to play defense with offense to make up for the absence of Keith.
But there really only is one Duncan Keith, and the Blackhawks need him at his best. He's almost red for a return.
"It's just a matter of getting my skating legs back and getting going again," Keith said. "That's it."
Follow Chris on Twitter @CEmma670.