March 9, 2021: Stay Golden Seabs

3rd all time in games played. 13th all time in assists. 22nd all time in scoring. 45th all time in goals. You can go down the line of where Brent Seabrook sits when it comes to individual stats in Chicago Blackhawks history, but stats don’t always tell the whole story. Sure, if stats are your thing, how about when it counts: 17th in goals scored, 14th in scoring, 13th in assists, and 7th in games played in the playoffs. Yes, individual stats help tell the story, no doubt, but when it comes to Brent Seabrook, on the ice, if there’s one stat that defines him it’s 3 time Stanley Cup winner.

Were you a Blackhawks fan when Seabrook was drafted back in 2003? These were the days where the actual attendance at the United Center would have been just fine even in cities where COVID restrictions are in place; why can’t some fans be allowed in the UC at this point again? Anyways… I remember… going to a game back then, sitting in the famed Lexus level, for dirt cheap, hearing the guys talk on the ice. Yes, when Seabs made his debut a couple years later in 2005, it wasn’t much different. The Blackhawks were in the middle of some dark days. Before the 2008-2009 season, the Hawks had made the playoffs 1 time in 10 years… this coming off 28 straight years in the playoffs by the way. Yes, bad timing maybe for Seabrook, and guys like Duncan Keith drafted in 2002, whose names we’d say together a few times when it was all said and done… or maybe not. Sure, there was a more famous duo that were drafted in this era with Toews and Kane, but just as none of those Cups happen without them, none of those Cups happen without Keith and Seabrook. Best Hawks defensive pair of all time? I don’t think I’m off my rocker answering that question YES. No pair has won more Cups than them, that’s for sure. Yes, when it came down to putting your best two on the back end when the games, the season was on the line, Coach Q didn’t hesitate. I know people remember that.

Yeah, don’t let the last couple years fool you; it’s not Brent’s fault we signed him for a massive contract too late in his career… good for him. It’s not Brent’s fault that Father Time remains undefeated; that injuries happen, build up for a guy that’s played 1,237 total games for a franchise. If you want to “blame him” for anything, how about being one of the leaders during one of the greatest eras of Blackhawks hockey ever? He was, he definitely was. How about all those big hits? Seabrook’s massive 6’3″ 220lb frame engulfing opponents against the boards. He did score some pretty big goals. They show that Red Wings goal for a reason. Game 7, Western Conference finals, at the UC, in OT, after coming back from down 3-1 in the series, after being absolutely robbed at the end of regulation; if the hairs don’t raise on your arm when you think about that, I don’t know what to tell you. We were lucky enough to have plenty of those moments in the 2010s; we were lucky to have Seabrook.

How hard do you think it is to give up something that you love? Hanging it up after playing all those games at the highest level, that game you grew up with, that game you loved your whole life. Watching Eddie O interview Seabs during that Lightning game; that was emotional, especially when Brent starting talking about his dad. Being able to share so much of this, all those father-son trips the Hawks made over the years, with your family that was a primary reason you became who you’ve become, now being able to share that with your own family; that’s what it’s all about no? Yes, when we’re finally able to pack back in the UC, I don’t doubt that Seabrook and his family will be welcomed back to the ice and recognized as they should be. Until then, stay golden Seabs… stay golden.