Defenseman Brent Seabrook will serve as the Chicago Blackhawks‘ new alternate captain, head coach Joel Quenneville announced Thursday during the team’s news conference at the University of Notre Dame. Quenneville said he made the announcement to players during a team meeting Wednesday night.
Seabrook, 30, has won three Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks since being selected 14th overall in the first round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the team. He scored seven goals in 23 postseason games during the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
“I’m very honored to be a part of the (leadership) group here and wear a letter for the Blackhawks,” Seabrook said.
Seabrook takes over the alternate captain role from Patrick Sharp, who was traded to the Dallas Stars this offseason. Duncan Keith was named an alternate captain along with Sharp in 2008.
“For many years, he’s been one of those guys I’ve looked up to and learned from,” said Toews, who has been the Hawks captain since 2008. “It’s great for him to be recognized with a letter. He’s been a huge part of our success on the ice.”
Seabrook has scored 71 goals and 247 assists for 318 career points in 763 regular-season games. He also has 19 goals and 38 assists in 112 postseason games across 10 NHL seasons with the Hawks.
Defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson and future Hall of Famer Marian Hossa were other candidates for the alternate captaincy.
Seabrook is in the final year of a five-year, $29 million contract, and said he “had talks” with general manager Stan Bowman about a new deal.
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