Duncan Keith signed Wednesday with the Blackhawks and will begin the season with Norfolk of the American Hockey League. Keith earned the contract by being one of the better defenseman in training camp and showed the Hawks he was ready to begin his professional career rather than return to Kelowna of the Western Hockey League. Keith, 20, was selected in the second round of the 2002 draft out of Michigan State. He left MSU after 13 games last season to join Kelowna. The Hawks had until the 2004 draft to sign Keith or lose his rights. . . .
Minnesota played without Marian Gaborik and Pascal Dupuis because of contract disputes. The two were the Wild’s leading scorers last season, combining for 50 goals and 113 points for a team that ranked in the bottom third of the NHL in scoring last season. . . .
Kyle Calder skated with a face mask in practice Tuesday to protect his mouth and nose after taking a stick to the face in Saturday’s exhibition at Dallas. He was in the lineup Wednesday and played without the protection. Calder has missed just one game in the last two seasons. . . .
Hawks coach Brian Sutter said not to believe anyone who says he didn’t have opening-night jitters. “The guys who think they are cool and calm, they’re like ducks–cool and calm on top and swimming like a bugger underneath.” . . . Sutter will rotate his alternate captains. For the first 20 homes games, beginning Wednesday, Calder and Eric Daze will wear the “A.” Steve Sullivan and Jon Klemm will be the alternates for the first 20 road games. Alex Zhamnov begins his second season as the Hawks’ captain.
