Brent Seabrook agrees to eight-year extension

The Chicago Blackhawks announced Saturday that they have agreed to terms with defenseman Brent Seabrook on an eight-year contract extension, which runs through the end of the 2023-24 season.

The 30-year-old won his third Stanley Cup with Chicago last season and was entering the final year of a five-year, $29 million contract, which carried a $5.8 million salary cap hit.

Friedman had reported earlier in the week that, following the extension hammered out between Erik Johnson and the Colorado Avalanche, talks between Seabrook and the Blackhawks were “moving in the right direction.”

Seabrook and the Blackhawks had been working toward a new deal for a while, with reports of them nearing an agreement surfacing as early as September 17, per the Chicago Tribune’s Chris Kuc. Without seeing the cap go up at all, that leaves little room to sign the rest of the roster, not even counting the fact that Marcus Kruger will be an RFA again (only this time, he’ll be joined by Andrew Shaw).

Seabrook, 30, is under contract through 2024, with fellow star rearguard Duncan Keith signed through 2023. Marian Hossa, who still has six years remaining on his current deal, turns 37 in January.

Brent Seabrook will likely be a member of the Chicago Blackhawks for years to come.

Seabrook is considered one of the team’s leaders and was recently designated an alternate captain.

The Blackhawks have been extremely loyal to their core players and have been rewarded with three Stanley Cups in six years.

Stan Bowman just gave him a lot more than that.