Seabrook's career over as Blackhawks defenseman goes on long-term injured reserve

As Brent Seabrook approached the United Center on Thursday, he arrived at a familiar intersection and came to a stop.

He sat there and waited. And sat there some more.

Then the Blackhawks defenseman looked up and realized he wasn't at a stop light - he was at a stop sign.

One day later, the three-time Stanley Cup champion announced his playing career has been stopped in its tracks by a hip injury.

"I don't know if it's really hit me yet until I head home (to Canada)," Seabrook said Friday during a 28-minute talk with the media via Zoom. "I've stopped at (that sign) a million times on the way to the rink. I thought it was a stoplight.

"I was there for about five minutes and it was right outside the United Center. Just weird things like that. I've had a lot of emotions."

Seabrook, who was placed on long-term injured reserve, will go down as one of the best blue liners in the history of the franchise. The numbers speak for themselves: 103 goals and 361 assists in 1,114 games, with 20 more goals and another 39 assists in the playoffs. Which, of course, is where Seabrook really shined.

No one will ever forget his Game 7 overtime winner against Detroit in 2013. Or the talk he had with Jonathan Toews in the penalty box during that series as it was seemingly unraveling.

Or his Game 4 overtime winner against Boston in 2013. Or the triple-OT winner against Nashville in Game 4 in 2015.

All of these remarkable accomplishments helped earn Seabrook an eight-year, $55 million contract extension following the 2014-15 season. He played 270 games under that deal - one that runs three more seasons and carries a $6.875 million cap hit.

That's something Stan Bowman, GM and president of hockey operations, must deal with down the road. Friday was all about Seabrook.

The 35-year-old was attempting to come back from surgeries on both hips and his right shoulder. He trained with the team last summer as it prepared to take part in the playoffs in the Edmonton bubble. Afterward, he spoke about how excited he was to get this season started and prove he could again be a dominant force in the NHL.

"I still think that I'm one of the best defensemen in this locker room," Seabrook said. "If given the chance and the opportunities that some guys get then I think I would definitely be able to live up to those expectations and exceed them.

"I've done it my whole career."

But Seabrook hit a serious roadblock just before Christmas as he woke up and was unable to walk. He did manage to skate with other NHLers in Canada later that week, but then tweaked his back the day before Hawks training camp began.

Ever since, he has been battling and trying to find a way to return. The last straw came a week ago after Seabrook practiced with the taxi squad.

"It was hard to skate and keep up," he said. "It (the hip) never got better. I'd wake up in the morning, I'd feel pretty good. I'd skate for five minutes and it would lock up and I couldn't push or pivot or turn.

"Everybody I was working with was great. They skated me hard and tried to get me ready to roll. That Saturday I was pretty excited. (Assistant coach) Marc Crawford was running the drills. It wasn't an easy practice, but sort of made me think a little bit."

Seabrook then talked to Dr. Michael Terry and the writing was on the wall.

"In true fashion, I said, 'OK, well I'm gonna see how I feel in the morning and maybe I'll skate,' " Seabrook said. "But I woke up the next morning and couldn't really move very well."

At that point, Seabrook knew he was done. So he reached out and told Duncan Keith, Patrick Kane, Toews, the rest of the Hawks, former teammates, friends and family.

Keith, whom Seabrook roomed with when both were rookies in 2005, has barely left his buddy's side during the past week.

"He's been attached to me since like he's been wearing a leash," Seabrook said. "It's been pretty great to have him. ... Been sharing lots of stories.

"Talking with Kaner was emotional as well. I reached out to Johnny. I talked to him. ...

"It's been an emotional week. ... It was important for me to talk with them and thank them for everything they did for my career."

Seabrook, who said he has no cartilage left in one of his hips, also was asked for his favorite memories and what his message would be to the fans.

"Winning the Cup in Philadelphia was a dream come true," Seabrook said of the Hawks' 2010 triumph. "Trying to help this team out and providing some big goals was a lot of fun. ...

"I'll never forget in 2015 when we got to win the Cup at home, and (being able to) raise that Cup for the first time in front of our fans was incredible. The fans in Chicago have always been amazing to us as a team and amazing to me. I always felt comfortable in the city. They pushed us hard. They were hard on us.

"Chicago fans are hard on all their sports teams. But it definitely pushed us to be great. That helped us get over the hump a lot of times. The emotion and the feedback we got from them was amazing. That '15 Cup in front of them ... was special.

"My message (to the fans) would always be the same. It would just be simple and to thank them. Thank you.

"It was a fun ride and I had a blast putting on that Blackhawks jersey every night and competing for you guys."

@johndietzdh

Reaction on Brent Seabrook's career ending

<b>Former coach Joel Quenneville:</b>"Privileged to coach Seabs. He's one of the guys on our team that was one of the true leaders. His voice was probably the one you heard most in the locker room. ... He scored a lot of key goals for us at key times in big moments. A stabilizing force the team. Played a lot of minutes. Important minutes. He was just a fun guy. We had a good relationship; we had a good rapport. You look back over your career and certain players had a memorable effect on what you went through as a coach, and some great memories with Seabs. ... The memories were spectacular."

<b>Stan Bowman, the Blackhawks general manager and president of hockey operations</b>On Seabrook's style of play:

"He was a fearless player. Big, strong guy, not afraid to play physical and stand up for himself or for his teammates if they were being taken advantage of. Ultimate competitor. That's what I think of with him. Very underrated as far as his passing skills. Looking back at those teams when we had such great forwards with Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp. ... I've said for a long time was how good our defensemen were, in particular Keith and Seabrook. They were a pair for a number of years. Such good players together defensively but also getting those outlet passes to the forwards, starting the attack."

On his leadership skills:

"The other part is just his presence and personality. The media didn't really get to see that, but he really was the guy in the locker room that would keep everyone engaged, sometimes through humor, other times through just being that upbeat spirit, trying to be a spark of positivity. He was a huge part of the teams over the years. It's something that, when you talk to teammates of his, they all talk about."

Head coach Jeremy Colliton:

"As a player you want to play forever. If you're a competitor, you never want to let that go. ... From Seabs' perspective, no one can say that he didn't do everything he could to come back. He definitely still had the fire and the hunger to get back and compete and help us win. I don't think he left anything on the table there. As well, I'm not sure he has anything left to prove, either. ... Lots to be proud of now and lots that he will look back on and be proud of later on. Obviously, it's going to be tough not competing every night, but his resume is up there, for sure."