CHICAGO – Veteran defender Brent Seabrook will not play for the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL playoffs, saying he is not comfortable enough on the ice after three surgeries.
The 35-year-old man underwent two hip surgeries and right shoulder surgery within five weeks earlier this year. He was originally scheduled to miss five to six months, but hoped to be ready for the season’s resumption.
“My main goal was to come play and see how I felt and accelerate as fast as I could,” Seabrook said Friday. “I just don’t feel comfortable yet, as comfortable as I want to feel on the ice.”
Seabrook was part of the winning teams for the Chicago Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015. He signed with a salary cap of nearly $ 7 million for the next four seasons.
Seabrook spoke to Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman, concluding that it wouldn’t make sense for him to take a place on the 31-player roster. The team is to send that list and its 52-person travel group to the Western Conference Central City of Edmonton, Alberta, by Friday.
“I came here prepared to play and make an impact,” said Seabrook. “I’m excited about the way it turned out. I’m excited about the way I felt.”
Seabrook limited himself to three goals and one assist in 32 games this season. In 1,114 NHL regular season games, he has 103 goals and 361 assists for 464 points.
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