Duncan Keith captures Conn Smythe Trophy

Jun 16, 2015 - 5:24 AM Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Duncan Keith's performance in the 2015 playoffs was one for the ages.

Keith, Chicago's anchor on the blue line, garnered a unanimous vote for the Conn Smythe Trophy as the postseason's top performer and was key in helping the Blackhawks hoist the Stanley Cup for the third time in six seasons.

"I'm very proud to be a part of a group like that," Keith humbly said in a postgame interview. "I think (the Conn Smythe Trophy) could've went to a lot of different guys on our team."

His Game 6 was a microcosm of his performance in these playoffs. He scored the game-winning goal in Monday's Cup clinching victory and was on the ice for more than half the game.

The two-time Norris Trophy winner is the ninth defenseman to win the Conn Smythe and first since Anaheim's Scott Niedermayer in 2007.

He finished the postseason with a league-leading 18 assists and 21 points, matching the most in franchise history by a defenseman since Hall of Famer Chris Chelios did so in 1992.

"Great selection, right guy, based on a lot of reasons," Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville said of Keith. "But a huge goal for us tonight. Active in the play. Defends as well as he does, he still creates a lot of offense for us against top players."

Keith became the fourth skater since 1998 to log over 700 minutes in a postseason, joining fellow defensemen Drew Doughty (Los Angeles, 2014), Chris Pronger (Edmonton, 2006) and Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit, 2002).

"I'm a little tired now," Keith commented with obvious relief. "Now that it's all over, you get a chance to have fun and relax, but it's all worth it."

He nearly spent almost 100 more minutes on ice than Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman, who came in second place in minutes this postseason and appeared in three more games.

One of Keith's most memorable performances this postseason was when he logged 49:51 of ice time and tallied an assist in a 3-2 triple overtime win over the Ducks in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals.

His dominance on the blue line has played a huge part in Chicago's continual postseason success and will for many years to come.