Why Blackhawks Fans Should Root For The Edmonton Oilers

With the Blackhawks sitting on the couch and watching the playoffs like the rest of the fanbase, it is often hard to find a team to cheer for. You most certainly don't want to root for division rivals and often find it difficult to root for teams we have had heated playoff rivalries in the past. However, there is one team left in the playoffs whose success will directly benefit the Blackhawks' future.

On July 5th, 2021, The Blackhawks traded Duncan Keith and Tim Soderlund to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Caleb Jones and a 2022 3rd round conditional draft pick. Unlike the conditional draft pick in the Fleury to Minnesota deal, this pick has a chance to move up a round! If the Edmonton Oilers advance to the Stanley Cup Finals and Duncan Keith ranks in the top 4 in terms of ice time among defensemen through the first 3 rounds, the 3rd round pick will become a 2022 2nd rounder!

A second-round pick will allow the Blackhawks to either draft a quality prospect with upside or allow them to make a better offer on the trade market for another young skater to give a chance during the first year of the rebuild. As of right now, Duncan Keith currently ranks 3rd among the Oilers Defensemen in time on ice with 19:23 a game. Given Keith's past superhuman ice time numbers with the Blackhawks in the 2015 playoffs, he should remain in at least the top 4 for the remainder of the Oilers' time in the playoffs.