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Chicago Blackhawks: Brent Seabrook and the Contract Conundrum

By Ryan Fedrau |
Brent Seabrook #7, Chicago Blackhawks (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Brent Seabrook #7, Chicago Blackhawks (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Brent Seabrook and his contract have been a punchline for a while now. What options do the Chicago Blackhawks have at this point, in regards to Seabrook?

Heading into the 2019-20 NHL season, the Chicago Blackhawks have acquired some young studs on defense including Olli Maatta, Calvin de Haan, and hopefully, bringing up Adam Boqvist for the start of this upcoming season.

With those two big additions, Olli Maatta, 24, is a $4.55M AAV hit to the Chicago Blackhawks’ cap and Calvin de Haan, 28, is a $4,083,333 AAV hit to the Blackhawks salary cap. Both players are signed through the 2021-22 season.

Looking at the future, Erik Gustafsson, 27, will be a UFA this offseason and Slater Koekkoek, 25, will be an RFA this offseason. If you have to lose one of the two, I would rather lose Koekkoek.

Erik Gustafsson had a break out year last season with 60 points (17G, 43A) in 79 games. He has played well in this new Jeremy Colliton system and could be a key part of the future success of the Chicago Blackhawks.

When you look at Brent Seabrook, 34, who is signed through 2023-24 with a cap hit of $6,875,000 AAV, it is important to think about the future.

Seabrook’s production is way down compared to what he used to be and I am not saying he is a bad player, he has a bad contract. Brent Seabrook’s contract gives him high expectations that he just cannot live up to anymore.

The new signings and young players coming up will need to be paid. Erik Gustafsson, if he as a season like he did last year, he will want a contract close to Seabrook’s. That puts Chicago in a tough spot.

Do you ask Brent Seabrook to waive his no-movement clause to help the team? Would he be willing to leave?

There actually was a rumored trade which involve Seabrook and the 3rd overall pick for Vancouver’s 10th pick. The trade obviously fell through and Chicago drafted Kirby Dach instead.

If Stan Bowman is willing to get rid of Seabrook, with his blessing of course, where would he go?

My best guess is either Florida or Vancouver. The trade could be Brent Seabrook and Chicago’s first-round pick in 2020 for either team’s first-round pick.

It’s going to take a major sweetener and a prayer to unload Seabrook — and his $6.875 mil AAV cap hit — and not have to retain any salary.

CHICAGO, IL – MARCH 07: Brent Seabrook #7 of the Chicago Blackhawks grabs the puck ahead of Kyle Okposo #21 of the Buffalo Sabres in the second period at the United Center on March 7, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Bill Smith/NHLI via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – MARCH 07: Brent Seabrook #7 of the Chicago Blackhawks grabs the puck ahead of Kyle Okposo #21 of the Buffalo Sabres in the second period at the United Center on March 7, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Bill Smith/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Why the Panthers are a Good Fit

Joel Quenneville is now their head coach and he has always loved Brent Seabrook. Seabrook had his best years under Coach Q, and even though his production has slowed down, it is possible both of them would want to reunite.

I’m sure Seabrook wouldn’t mind finishing his career with Coach Q. It has been talked about by Blackhawks’ fans on social media, but nothing serious has ever come from it.

Why the Canucks are a Good Fit

Brent Seabrook’s hometown of Richmond, CA is 41 minutes from Vancouver. In recent years, a lot of players have wanted to finish out their careers in their hometowns.

Recent examples being John Tavares, 28, being Mississauga, CA which is close to Toronto and the now-retired Brian Gionta, 40, played in Buffalo which is around 2 hours from his hometown of Rochester, NY.

What Happens with Brent Seabrook’s Contract?

The problem is his long, terrible contract. Vancouver has just over $5,000,000 open for their salary cap.

Florida has just under $3,000,000. Vancouver would be the easier option of the two.

Chicago would have to take back a player from Florida, which would ruin the whole salary dump idea.

The best option for a Chicago/Vancouver trade would be Chicago giving up a 2nd and 3rd round draft pick, with Seabrook for someone like Alex Biega, 31, who hasn’t had much success in the NHL.

Is It Really Necessary to Trade Brent Seabrook?

The short answer is yes. The Chicago Blackhawks need to first make sure to keep Dylan Strome, 22, and Alex DeBrincat, 21, on their roster with both of their rookie deals expiring after the 2019-20 season.

With Corey Crawford‘s, 34, contract also expiring at the end of the season — same with Robin Lehner, 28 — Chicago will have $11,000,000 AAV coming off the books next offseason.

Chicago needs to keep Lehner at least, and if Corey Crawford will take a “hometown” discount, keep him as well.

There will be around $19,000,000 AAV free going into the offseason anyway, so Strome and DeBrincat will be back for the 2020-21 season.

That leaves Erik Gustafsson open with possibly $4,000,000 left to spend, at the most.

Getting rid of Seabrook would open up $6,875,000 AAV and almost guarantee Gustafsson a spot on the 2020-21 Chicago Blackhawks’ roster.

By moving Seabrook, Chicago would then have around $26,000,000 AAV to spend next summer.

With $26,000,000 AAV to keep guys in Chicago, you could easily lock up both Strome and DeBrincat, keep Gustafsson, make sure to keep cap space open for the younger guys, like Dach and Boqvist when their contracts expire, and possibly get someone cheap in free agency.

There are a lot of possibilities, but chances are Seabrook won’t be leaving Chicago anytime soon and that will put Stan Bowman in a really tough spot.

We can’t blame Seabrook. Bowman gave him this contract and he just signed it. As of right now, if Seabrook stays, the Chicago Blackhawks’ winning window will be a lot shorter than what they had from 2009-2017.

Let’s just hope Stan Bowman can pull something out from his bag of tricks to keep this “One Goal 4” alive.

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