How the Blackhawks can use Brent Seabrook best

Brent Seabrook was a huge part of the Chicago Blackhawks dynasty in the 2010s. With Seabrook getting older, here’s how the Blackhawks can use him in today’s game.

Now, I know many people have mixed feelings on Brent Seabrook, and I can fully understand why. Is he the player he once was? Can he still handle the modern NHL? These are all questions that I will try to make it easier for you to answer.

Like many of you, I’m sure given this hard time that we are all going through, I have been watching old matches from the Chicago Blackhawks‘ 2010 Stanley Cup run. Seabrook was a massive part of that run, as he was in 2013 and 2015.

The one thing people say about him in recent times is that he is slow on the ice, with those saying he’s not a good skater anymore. Speed has never been something you can say Seabrook has had. I’m sure if you ask him, he’d agree.

The thing that stood out to me when he played in 2010 was how physical he was, how hard he was to play against and his eye for a pass. Now, yes, he is older now and yes, probably slower, but I feel he can still be an effective player for the Blackhawks. A way he can do that is to be more physical and be a defender forwards hate to be on the ice with.

I feel the problem that people have with Seabrook and one you can’t get away with is his contract. This is not his fault and any player would have taken a contract like that. He’s not being traded away, I just don’t see an option for that without sending first-round picks and prospects. I say that because of the $6,875,000 value of his contract, that runs through 2023-24.

What Chicago needs to do is get the best out of him. That might be putting him on a pairing with a shutdown defender and letting them defend their net or getting his ice time right so he can be physical and play his game.

He still has a booming slap shot which isn’t used at all. So, it’s about the management team trying to get the best out of him and not setting him up to fail.