Brent Seabrook, speaking for the first time since his trifecta of surgeries last winter, said Friday that he won’t play in the playoffs with the Blackhawks.
“I’m not going,” he said.
“My main focus was to come here [to training camp] to play and to see how I felt and get up to speed as fast as I could. I just don’t feel comfortable yet, as comfortable as I want to feel on the ice.”
The 35-year-old defenseman has been a full participant in all camp practices over the past two weeks, making an inspiringly fast return after undergoing surgeries on his shoulders and hips in December and January.
But Seabrook still hasn’t played in a game since Dec. 15 — more than seven months ago — and said he wants to leave a spot open for a teammate and focus his attention on preparing for the next training camp and the 2020-21 season.
Seabrook’s enormous contract and strained relationship with coach Jeremy Colliton make his future with the Hawks uncertain, but he said he’s certain he will play hockey somewhere next season.
“I don’t know where my place is here with the Blackhawks,” he said. “That’s a question for Stan [Bowman] and Jeremy. As far as the NHL goes, I know I can be an impact player on a hockey club.”
This story will be updated.
