Veteran Sean O'Donnell will be paired with Nick Leddy with Keith out of the lineup. Brent Seabrook-Niklas Hjalmarsson and Steve Montador-Sami Lepisto remain the other defensive pairs.
O’Donnell hasn’t heard many of the “grandfather” jokes just yet. He’s still getting to know the guys, including fresh-faced 20-year-old Nick Leddy. Leddy and O’Donnell have been paired together much of the first three days of camp.
Rostering O'Donnell has been a sign of a contending team in recent years, whether it be in Los Angeles, Anaheim, Philadelphia or now Chicago. The 39-year-old won't add too much to the box score but should help the young Nick Leddy continue to adapt to the NHL.
Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman wasted little time when free agency opened Friday morning signing three veterans: tough guy Jamal Mayers, defenseman Sean O'Donnell and former Hawk Brett McLean.