Bowman 'very concerned' by Seabrook's lingering injury

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook has battled a number of injuries recently and hasn't seen game action in well over a year.

"We’re very concerned for him," general manager Stan Bowman said, according to The Chicago Sun Times' Ben Pope. "He’s been a warrior for us. Think of his time in Chicago - he never really missed any games. But now we’re realizing he was playing through a lot of pain those years, and it’s caught up to him.

"He was dealing with his shoulders and his hips to the point where he probably should have had (the surgeries) done years ago, but that’s how he’s always been driven - to keep moving forward, don’t worry about injuries, play through it."

The blue-liner was limited to 32 games last season. He underwent three different major surgeries for his right shoulder and both of his hips over a six-week span starting in December.

The 35-year-old had recovered from the surgeries over the summer and was planning to return to the lineup this season. However, he suffered a setback after tweaking his back right before training camp was set to begin, Bowman added.

The setback has held Seabrook out of Chicago's lineup this year, and there is no timetable for his potential return. In November, Seabrook said he had no plans to quit hockey due to his injuries and he wanted to prove his doubters wrong.

The 15-year veteran has spent his entire career with the Blackhawks, helping the club win a Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013, and 2015. Beyond this season, he has three more years remaining on his contract at a cap hit of $6.875 million.