Blackhawks’ Brent Seabrook could help Henri Jokiharju adjust to NHL

SHARE Blackhawks’ Brent Seabrook could help Henri Jokiharju adjust to NHL
1040512498_78942814.jpg

Brent Seabrook is congratulated by teammates after scoring a first period goal against the Detroit Red Wings during a preseason game at the United Center on September 25, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. | Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook can relate to Henri Jokiharju, who’s 19. He knows what it’s like to be one of the youngest rookies on an NHL roster because he made his debut when he was 20.

“I remember my first game I was minus-3 or minus-4,” said Seabrook, who was actually minus-1 with an assist in his NHL debut Oct. 5, 2005. “I didn’t know if I could play in the league. You know, it’s a different game. It’s a fast game; it’s exciting.”

Seabrook said he looked to veteran defensemen Adrian Aucoin and Jassen Cullimore for advice during his first season. But some of the greatest lessons on how to become an elite NHL defenseman, Seabrook said, came from simply watching them.

“I was young once, too — a long, long time ago in this league,” Seabrook said. “As a young guy, for myself, it’s just watching the older guys. . . . You take traits and see how they do things and how they get themselves in trouble, how they get themselves out of trouble.”

With 13 seasons and more than 1,000 games under his belt, Seabrook is the type of player Jokiharju can look to for help. And Seabrook hopes he can be a mentor.

“Whatever we can [do to] help,” Seabrook said. “We want to help.”

Jokiharju already has flashed his potential. At the start of training camp, coach Joel Quenneville had yet to be convinced that a young defenseman such as Jokiharju would be ready for the high-speed, hard-hitting NHL. But Jokiharju quickly dispelled the doubts.

“I liked [Jokiharju’s] game,” Quenneville said after the Hawks’ 4-1 victory Saturday against the Blue Jackets. “We like the way he participates in the attack. [He has] good patience with the puck in the offensive zone, as well. He’ll learn a lot about how to cover, little situations for a defenseman to improve upon, containment, influencing, and that consistency with how he defends is only going to enhance his game.”

Said Seabrook: “It’s impressive to see a kid come in at a young age like that and play as well as he has in training camp. And hopefully he’ll continue to get better and help us out.”

Last season, Jokiharju was one of the top defensemen in the Western Hockey League with 12 goals and 71 points.

Seabrook has been impressed with his natural ability, but he also realizes that, like for any rookie, there are going to be growing pains.

“He’s good,” Seabrook said. “He’s smooth, the way he handles the puck, the way he skates. I think his skating is a lot different than mine. I have to play a lot more positionally; he can get himself in a little bit of trouble and make up for it.”

RELATED

• Blackhawks goalie Cam Ward redeems himself after ’embarrassing’ preseason game

• Concern for Blackhawks’ Brandon Saad grows after ‘ordinary’ performance

And Quenneville believes this is only the beginning for Jokiharju, a first-round pick in 2017.

“He can only get better,” Quenneville said.

Jokiharju has said he hasn’t really thought about opening night yet, but Seabrook expects the young Finn will be excited Thursday on the road against the Senators.

“An exhibition is an exhibition, but that first regular-season game is pretty special,” Seabrook said. “I’m sure he’ll have some nerves.”

And Seabrook made it clear that there’s nothing wrong with being a little nervous. At 33, he still gets game-day jitters.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get nervous [for games],” Seabrook said. “It’s just human nature.”

The Latest
The lawsuit challenges Illinois’ counting of mail-in-ballots after election day, and has potential impact in this presidential election year.
Donald Trump is selling $60 Bibles, and if Jesus had not been resurrected, he most certainly would be rolling over in his grave.
Over the course of just six fast-paced episodes, Esposito creates a memorable character in this crime drama based on the BBC One series “The Driver.”
Ald. Jeanette Taylor, chair of the City Council’s Education Committee chair, said she’s disappointed that Johnson and his allies in the Chicago Teachers Union backed away from the fully elected, 21-member board he once supported. “This is not going to be as easy a transition as people think,” she said. “We’re used to a top-down system.”
Alex Caruso has been looking for a defensive showing like the one he and his teammates put on display in the win over the Pacers, but Caruso also knows it needs staying power. Could Javonte Green help that process moving forward?