[Signing] Blackhawks sign Brent Seabrook to a 8 yr extension ($6.85mil AAV)

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

If you ask Toews, he will tell you Seabrook is the voice of balance and calmness that helps 'Captain Serious' stay loose.

That sounds about right. Which is not at all the same thing as Seabrook being ‘the real leader’.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

If you ask Toews, he will tell you Seabrook is the voice of balance and calmness that helps 'Captain Serious' stay loose.

I'm not surprised at all by this. I recall watching the playoffs a couple years back. I think Chicago was playing the Bruins. Chicago was down by a goal mid 3rd period. Toews was coming unglued for some reason and kept taking bad penalties. Almost certain it was Seabrook that skated over to the penalty box and talked to Toews for a few mins. He calmed down right after that and the Hawks wind up scoring something like 2 goals with only minutes left to win.

[Zach]

He's just a solid D Man. Nothing flashy but he can be counted on.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

I'm not surprised at all by this. I recall watching the playoffs a couple years back. I think Chicago was playing the Bruins. Chicago was down by a goal mid 3rd period. Toews was coming unglued for some reason and kept taking bad penalties. Almost certain it was Seabrook that skated over to the penalty box and talked to Toews for a few mins. He calmed down right after that and the Hawks wind up scoring something like 2 goals with only minutes left to win.

Toews made an unusual admission after the game, revealing that the Blackhawks’ overtime scoring hero, defenceman Brent Seabrook, had been gently prodding him to regain the goal-scoring touch that he’d had in the regular season and lost in the playoffs.

Just about everyone else was willing to let Toews off the hook because of all the other qualities he brought to the team equation. But on Thursday, Seabrook said he thought Toews needed a pep talk because:

“To be completely honest, I was sick and tired of hearing everybody talk about everything that Johnny is doing right. I mean, he’s got to score goals for us. … It wasn’t about the little things that he does. It wasn’t about his leadership that he brings. I just thought that maybe he needed to start thinking about scoring goals.”

It was a candid, fascinating admission and perked up Thursday’s between-games press gathering.

Seabrook had a similar steadying influence on Toews two rounds ago, when Toews was being frustrated by Henrik Zetterberg’s persistent checking in the series against the Detroit Red Wings and took too many retaliatory penalties as a result. In one memorable scene, captured by the television cameras, Seabrook went to the penalty box, put his arm around Toews and calmed him down.

To get this much truth-telling says a lot about the relationship the Blackhawks’ veterans have with one another – knowing they can challenge each other to be better, but secure in the knowledge it will be taken the right way. Some teams just feel the need to heap false praise upon one another.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sport...ticle12732823/

Sounds like the same kind of impact Conroy and Gelinas had on a certain flames team.

[Strange Brew]

Will be interesting to compare to Gio's deal.

[powderjunkie]

No doubt Keith is the better player and has proven his value on his own, but I find it funny how people think Seabrook is the only one who benefits from their synergy; Keith might not be the same player without Seabrook too.

[thefoss1957]

Powder...what you say is somewhat true, but, subjectively, the dropoff for Seabrook with other partners seems more apparent.

[ricardodw]

what Seabrock does is project a physical presence and does the heavy lifting that allows Keith and Kane and Tervainen be able to get a pass on engaging in the tough spots.

The Flames do not have a Seabrook style 20 minute a game player and Brodie and Russell for example has to do more grinding than they would have to if all the sudden Engelland developed Seabrook skills.

[Hackey]

All of a sudden Engelland develops Searook skills sounds nice.

[getbak]

Wow. Big term and money...

Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC

Seabrook is eight years at approximately a $6.85M AAV. Good for him, he earned it.

[Jacks]

That's a big commitment to a 30 year old.

[transplant99]

Pretty much the Gio contract plus 2 years.

Good deal for him though, very good player.

[Jacks]

2 years longer than Gio, and he's already got 763 games on his odometer.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Jacks

2 years longer than Gio, and he's already got 763 games on his odometer.

875 when you include playoffs.

[Enoch Root]

Seabrook has earned that deal, and the AAV isn't higher than one would have expected.

However, the comparisons to Giordano are unavoidable, as the AAV is similar and they will both be 38 in the final season of the deal.

I am far more confident about Giordano's level of play in the last couple years of the deal than I am about Seabrook.

Significantly.

[sureLoss]

Lots of speculation now that the Jets won't be able to re-sign Byfuglien based on the numbers Seabrook got and what he can get on the free agent market.

Trouba is coming off his ELC and likely warrants a better contract than Klefbom.

Schiefele also coming off his ELC.

Ladd UFA.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Lots of speculation now that the Jets won't be able to re-sign Byfuglien based on the numbers Seabrook got and what he can get on the free agent market.

Trouba is coming off his ELC and likely warrants a better contract than Klefbom.

Schiefele also coming off his ELC.

Ladd UFA.

Another reason to be happy to have Gio, Brodie, and Hamilton all locked up for a minimum of five seasons each.

[activeStick]

I pray that neither the Canucks or the Oilers get Byfuglien.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by activeStick

I pray that neither the Canucks or the Oilers get Byfuglien.

Oilers won't have the cap space to sign Byfuglien to a massive deal, not if they're planning for McDavid and Nurse properly.

Could totally see him going to Vancouver if Byfuglien is ok with playing for a bad team.

[Hackey]

More term than you would like but that's what you need to do to get these guy's signed. Cap hit is alright for now. Those later years I guess time will tell. Can't let a guy like this walk though.