The Blackhawks are nearing a long-term agreement with defenseman Brent Seabrook, according to a source. Seabrook, 25, is in the last year of a three-year deal and will be a restricted free agent at season's end. "We're getting close [to a deal]. It's certainly moved along faster in the last week or so," Chicago general manager Stan Bowman said Saturday. "Nothing yet. I expect something soon hopefully. "He's been a great player and I think he's going to get even better."

Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said the team is "aggressively trying" to sign defenseman Brent Seabrook to a new contract. "We are obviously pursuing a contract with Brent. We've been talking over the past couple months back and forth," Bowman said Thursday on "The Afternoon Saloon" on ESPN 1000. "We've had a good dialogue. He wants to stay, and we certainly want to keep him. He's not an unrestricted free agent this year; he's a restricted free agent so he's going to be a member of our organization. We just have to find out what the number is and then how many years is it. We haven't come to an agreement yet but we are working through it. "It's been a positive discussion so far with his agent. These things take time. There's other players in his boat and a lot of times you take a wait and see approach. We're aggressively trying to get it done but it hasn't happened yet."