Keith Selected As Norris Trophy Finalist

Duncan Keith posted career bests in 2009-10 with 14 goals and 55 assists.

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith has been named as a finalist for the James Norris Trophy, given annually to the National Hockey League defenseman who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position, the league announced today. Keith is one of three finalists for the award, along with Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings and Mike Green of the Washington Capitals.

Keith, 26, ranked second among NHL blueliners with a career-high 69 points, posting career-bests in goals (14) and assists (55) in 82 regular-season games during the 2009-10 campaign for the Blackhawks. He led all defensemen in goals (10), assists (38), and points (48) recorded at even-strength, and ranked second among all players with an average of 26:35 of ice time per game.

The Penticton, B.C. native (born in Winnipeg, Manitoba) won a gold medal in February with Team Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. He has registered 45 goals and 152 assists in 404 regular-season contests over the course of his NHL career, and six assists in 21 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, leading the Blackhawks to the 2009 Western Conference Finals in his postseason debut last year. Keith has paced the club in ice time in each of his five seasons in the league, and his +84 plus/minus rating since the start of the 2007-08 campaign is the third-best total in the NHL.

Chicago’s second selection, 54th overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Keith is attempting to capture the seventh Norris Trophy in franchise history, joining Pierre Pilote (1963, ’64, ’65), Doug Wilson (1982), and Chris Chelios (1993, ’96) as the only Blackhawks to win the award. The winner will be announced Wednesday, June 23, during the2010 NHL Awardsthat will be broadcast live from the Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms Hotel Las Vegas on VERSUS in the United States and on CBC in Canada.