The Chicago Blackhawks announced today what fans have been expecting for the last week to ten days. Forwards Kirby Dach (wrist injury) and Jonathan Toews (undisclosed medical issue) have been placed on Long-Term Injured Reserve. Defenceman Brent Seabrook (back injury) remains on IR, and has been out of Chicago's lineup since mid-December 2019.

Dach, 19, will miss four-to-five months after suffering a wrist fracture in a pre-tournament game at the 2021 World Juniors that required surgery.

Toews, 32, is out indefinitely after announcing on December 29th that he was feeling "drained and lethargic".

"Until I can get my health back to a place where I feel I can perform at an elite level and help my team, I will not be joining the Blackhawks for training camp. I do not have a timetable for when I will rejoin the team. I am extremely disappointed, but it wouldn't be fair to myself or my teammates to attempt to play in my current condition", Toews said back in late December.

Seabrook, 35, has had a rough go lately. As mentioned, he hasn't played in an game since mid-December 2019. Since then, he's had three surgeries. In December 2019 he had surgery on his right shoulder, in January 2020 he had surgery on his left hip, and in February 2020 he had surgery on his right hip.

He was left off Chicago's return-to-play roster in August 2020 as he continued to recover from his surgeries.

In 1114 regular season games, he has 464 points (103 G, 361 A), 661 penalty minutes, and is a +111. In 123 career playoff games, he's tallied 59 points (20 G, 39 A), 83 penalty minutes, and is a +8. Seabrook has won three Stanley Cups with Chicago in 2010, 2013, and 2015, and is likely on his way to be inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame at the conclusion of his career.

Internationally, Seabrook has represented Canada on multiple occasions, most recently at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 7 games, he had 1 point (1 A), 2 penalty minutes, and was a +2 as Canada won the Gold on home ice by defeating the United States in overtime on Crosby's famous goal.

Source: Chicago Blackhawks

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