Brent Seabrook continues to recover from shoulder and hip surgeries, and the Blackhawks veteran defenseman hopes to soon take the next step in his rehabilitation.
“I’m feeling great. I’m feeling really good,” he told NBC Sports Chicago on Wednesday. “Things are moving in a good direction.”
Seabrook, who turned 35 on April 20, had season-ending surgery on his right shoulder Dec. 27 and separate hip procedures in January and February. He scored four points (three goals, one assist) in 32 games this season. He’s expected to resume full hockey activity in three to four months.
Seabrook said he met with Blackhawks team physician Dr. Michael Terry last week, and hopes to be cleared to skate. Blackhawks equipment manager Troy Parchman is making in-line skates for Seabrook to use on the streets while rinks are closed due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus, the defenseman said.
“I’m still hopeful I can get on the ice or even [in-line skate] now (with) the new world we live in (and) the rinks not being open,” Seabrook said. “I think I’ve been progressing pretty good, and I’m just looking forward to getting back with the team and being able to skate, as I’m sure everybody is.”
Seabrook, who has 464 points (103 goals, 361 assists) in 1,114 games in 15 seasons with Chicago, has four years remaining on his contract with a $6.875 million annual salary cap hit. The next years on his contract have a full no-movement clause before he’ll submit a five- and 10-team trade list for the final two years, respectively.