NHL Salary Cap Questions > Can Duncan Keith un-retire?
Can Duncan Keith un-retire?
Asked Dec 5, 2022 by Christopher T
Can Duncan Keith un-retire prior to the playoffs? Is he still considered Oilers property? If so, what are the cap implications if he isn’t added to the active roster prior to the playoffs?
Answer
Apr 6, 2023
Unlike other players who have term remaining on their contract and ride it out on LTIR, Keith formally retired and walked away from the salary in his final year. While retired players can un-retire, Keith’s deal was a long-term, backloaded one that triggered a cap recapture penalty for the Blackhawks. Most importantly, since he retired and was not on the Oilers reserve list at the trade deadline, he is ineligible for the playoffs.
