CHICAGO -- With their focus directed on winning the Stanley Cup, the Chicago Blackhawks aren't putting much thought into individual honors.
Their recently completed eight-game trip, however, showcased not only their excellent team play but let everyone else in on a little secret: Duncan Keith is good. Real good.
So good that the buzz around the league has Keith as a leading candidate for the Norris Trophy, awarded to the NHL's top defenseman.
Through 55 games, Keith has already established a career high in points (49) and assists (38), both second-best on the Blackhawks behind winger Patrick Kane. Keith is one goal shy of his career-high 12, set during the 2007-08 season.
"It doesn't really mean a whole lot to me right now," Keith, 26, said of the hype about his Norris chances. "It's obviously nice to hear your name mentioned in things like that with so many great defensemen in the league, but at the same time there's still a lot of season left to play. There's no point in really thinking about anything like that."
Among defensemen, Keith is second to the Capitals' Mike Green in points, who has 52 in 52 games, third in shots with 143 and sixth with a plus-19 plus-minus rating. Keith is second among all players with an average of 26 minutes, 33 seconds of ice time per game.
Offensive numbers aside, Keith uses his blazing speed and deftness with his stick to pair with Brent Seabrook as the top shut-down defensive duo in the league. Team Canada took notice and selected the tandem to play together in the upcoming Winter Olympics.
"The best part for us as far as measuring a defenseman's efficiency is consistency and predictability," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "(Keith) has been that game in and game out, and him and Seabrook do a really nice job of trying to shut down the (opponents') top line and eliminate scoring chances.
"(Keith's) shot seems like it's penetrating more this year. We like the energy he brings shift in and shift out. You know he's going to get the job done."
His coach isn't the only one singing the 6-foot-1, 196-pound Keith's praises.
"He's not the biggest guy or the strongest guy, but his speed and with a good stick like that he's tough to get around," said Flames star Jarome Iginla, who was held without a shot during the Blackhawks' 3-1 victory Jan. 21 in Calgary. "He never gives up. He competes very hard. Some guys run guys over, but you don't have to do that to be effective."
Keith isn't the only Hawk who is generating talk of postseason hardware. Kane's offensive prowess has him being mentioned as a finalist for the Hart Trophy, given to the NHL's most valuable player.
"There's a couple of other guys in (our locker room) who deserve it just as well," said Kane, who with 21 goals and 39 assists is eighth in the league in scoring. "This year has been a pretty high ride for me, with playing pretty well and different things like getting named to the (United States') Olympic team and the new contract. You never want to be satisfied, you just want to keep getting better."
Jonathan Toews' play at both ends of the ice should earn votes for the Selke Trophy, given to the top defensive forward.
One-timer: The Blackhawks had Monday off, their second consecutive day off following their season-long trip, and will return to the ice Tuesday for practice in preparation for Wednesday night's game against the Blues at the United Center.
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