CHICAGO (AP) - Duncan Keith was back on the ice for the Chicago Blackhawks’ first practice of preseason camp.
The two-time Norris Trophy winner as the NHLs top defenseman took part in the team’s workout Friday.
Keith withdrew from Team Canada at the World Cup of Hockey to continue rehabbing his right knee, and went through a practice that lasted roughly 25 minutes. He said he’s been skating this month “just trying to get going” and that he is happy with “the progression that it’s been, basically since I started skating again.”
Assistant coach Mike Kitchen - who’s running the team while coach Joel Quenneville is with the Canadian team at the World Cup of Hockey - said the plan is for Keith to “come along at his own pace.”
“He’ll let us know when he’s ready to step in on scrimmage, and we can kind of rev it up a little bit in practice doing some individual drills with him, if it gets to that point,” Kitchen said.
The team also posted a video of Keith walking toward the rink before Friday’s practice.
The three-time Stanley Cup winner with the Blackhawks had surgery last October to fix a torn meniscus. He returned less than a month later, and finished the season with nine goals, 34 assists and an average ice time of 25 minutes, 14 seconds.
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