Nick Seeler Explained

Nick Seeler
Birth Date:3 June 1993
Birth Place:Eden Prairie, Minnesota, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lb:201
Position:Defense
Shoots:Left
League:NHL
Team:Philadelphia Flyers
Prospect League:AHL
Former Teams:Minnesota Wild
Chicago Blackhawks
Draft:131st overall
Draft Year:2011
Draft Team:Minnesota Wild
Career Start:2016

Nick Seeler (born June 3, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the fifth round, 131st overall, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Prior to turning professional, Seeler played for the University of Nebraska Omaha and University of Minnesota.

Playing career

As a student at Eden Prairie High School for four years, Seeler played on both the junior varsity hockey team and school golf team. However, he saw limited playing time due to his short stature until after a growth spurt in his junior year where he began to develop more as a player.[1] Before graduating, Seeler had been honored as a First-Team All-State selection, an All-Metro First Team choice, All-Lake Conference and a member of the All-Tournament Team in the State Tournament.[2]

Junior

While in his senior year at Eden Prairie High School, Seeler committed to play NCAA Division 1 hockey for the University of Nebraska Omaha.[3] He was later drafted 131st overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota Wild.[4] Following the draft, he then went on to play with the Muskegon Lumberjacks and the Des Moines Buccaneers in the United States Hockey League for the 2011–12 USHL season where he was named to the USHL All-Rookie Team.[5] He stated that he felt going through the USHL before joining the collegiate league would be the best way to prepare for the jump from junior hockey to college.[2]

College

Seeler then played for the University of Nebraska Omaha for two seasons before transferring to the University of Minnesota in 2014.[6] [7] He was not allowed to play in the 2014–15 season due to NCAA transfer rules.[7] [6] He then played one season for the University of Minnesota before signing an entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild and joining their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Iowa Wild, for the 2016–17 AHL season.[8] [9]

Professional

Minnesota Wild

After attending the Minnesota Wild's 2017 training camp, Seeler was reassigned to the AHL to begin the 2017–18 season.[10] He scored his first AHL goal on January 7, 2018, against the Cleveland Monsters.[11]

Seeler was called up to the NHL from the Iowa Wild on February 11, 2018.[4] He made his NHL debut the next day against the New York Rangers.[12] [13] Seeler recorded his first NHL point on February 22, 2018, in a game against the New Jersey Devils. He assisted on Chris Stewart's goal to help the Wild win 4–2.[14] After his first NHL fight against Luke Witkowski on March 4, 2018, Seeler missed three games due to a bicep strain.[15] He returned to the lineup on March 13, 2018, to play in a 5–1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.[16] Seeler made his playoff debut during the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets.[17] He recorded two points in five games as the Wild lost in five games to the Jets.

As a restricted free agent, Seeler agreed to a three-year, $2.175 million contract with the Wild on July 1, 2018.[18] On November 3, after going pointless in his first 12 NHL games that season, Seeler recorded two assists and his first NHL goal in a 5–1 win over the St. Louis Blues.[19]

Chicago Blackhawks

The Wild placed Seeler on waivers on February 3, 2020, whereupon he was claimed by the Chicago Blackhawks.[20] As the Blackhawks were already in town to play the Wild at the Xcel Energy Center, Seeler did not immediately have to move to join his new team, although he did not play against his old team.[21] He played in six games with Chicago, registering one assist before the regular season was indefinitely suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[22] When the NHL returned to play for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, Seeler was one of 31 Blackhawks invited to play in the "bubble" in Edmonton.[23]

After attending the Blackhawks training camp for the delayed 2020–21 season, Seeler failed to make the opening night roster and was reassigned to AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. On January 16, 2021, Seeler was placed on unconditional waivers in order to mutually terminate his contract with the Blackhawks.[24]

Philadelphia Flyers

On July 28, 2021, Seeler signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Philadelphia Flyers for $750,000.[25] Although he was expected to open with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, a preseason injury to Rasmus Ristolainen pushed Seeler up into the Flyers' opening day lineup.[26] He endeared himself to Flyers fans and teammates during the team's first match against the Seattle Kraken when he fought 6feet Jamie Oleksiak to a standstill. Seeler took seven penalty minutes during the game, which Philadelphia won 6–1.[27] However, as the Flyers held a 13–20–8 record by January 2022 and became riddled with injuries, Seeler was asked to move into a fourth-line winger position.[28]

On May 20, 2022, Seeler opted to forgo free agency and agreed to a two-year, $1.550 million contract extension with the Flyers.[29] On March 6, 2024, the Flyers signed him to a four-year contract extension.[30]

Personal life

His parents are Dan and Kris Seeler and he has two older sisters, Ashley and Kelly. Kelly was a member of the Minnesota's national championship hockey team in 2012.[7] [6]

Career statistics

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
2008–09Eden Prairie High SchoolHSMN17 0 2 2 66 0 0 0 2
2009–10Eden Prairie High SchoolHSMN25 3 14 17 123 1 3 4 0
2010–11Eden Prairie High SchoolHSMN22 7 27 34 386 2 7 9 10
2011–12Muskegon LumberjacksUSHL32 2 13 15 32
2011–12Des Moines BuccaneersUSHL26 2 11 13 33
2012–13University of Nebraska OmahaWCHA34 2 7 9 55
2013–14University of Nebraska OmahaNCHC36 4 6 10 61
2015–16University of MinnesotaB1G36 0 10 10 43
2016–17Iowa WildAHL57 0 5 5 109
2017–18Iowa WildAHL49 2 10 12 74
2017–18Minnesota WildNHL22 0 4 4 215 0 2 2 7
2018–19Minnesota WildNHL71 2 5 7 64
2019–20Minnesota WildNHL6 0 0 0 8
2019–20Iowa WildAHL6 0 2 2 4
2019–20Chicago BlackhawksNHL6 0 1 1 7
2021–22Philadelphia FlyersNHL43 1 2 3 29
2022–23Philadelphia FlyersNHL77 4 10 14 56
2023–24Philadelphia FlyersNHL71 1 12 13 78
NHL totals296 8 34 42 2635 0 2 2 7

Awards and honors

AwardYearRef
USHL
USHL All-Rookie Team2012
College
NCHC Academic All-Conference Team2014[31]
Dr. V. George Nagobads Unsung Hero Award (Co-winner)2016[32]
Academic All-Big Ten2016[33]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wolfson . Ben . Seeler's Past Prepped Him For Future . NHL.com . January 29, 2019 . July 18, 2013.
  2. Web site: SEELER ADJUSTING TO PRO GAME . iowawild.com . January 29, 2019 . November 15, 2016.
  3. Web site: Jacks draft choice Seeler commits to University of Nebraska-Omaha. juniorhockey.com . January 29, 2019 . February 3, 2011.
  4. Web site: Minnesota Wild recalls defenseman Nick Seeler from Iowa. NHL.com. Minnesota Wild. February 22, 2018. St. Paul. February 11, 2018.
  5. Web site: Montesano. Scott. Seeler Named to All-Rookie Team. bucshockey.com. February 22, 2018. May 29, 2012.
  6. Web site: Wild draftee, ex-Eden Prairie standout Seeler joins Gophers. foxsports.com. February 22, 2018. September 3, 2014.
  7. Web site: NICK SEELER. gophersports.com. February 22, 2018.
  8. Web site: Minnesota Wild Signs Defenseman Nick Seeler To An Entry-Level Contract. NHL.com. Minnesota Wild. February 22, 2018. March 26, 2016.
  9. News: Mizutani. Dane. Finally in NHL, Wild rookie Nick Seeler intends to stay. February 22, 2018. St. Paul Pioneer Press. February 20, 2018. New York.
  10. Web site: THREE MORE ASSIGNED TO IOWA . iowawild.com . January 29, 2019 . September 24, 2017.
  11. Web site: IOWA BEATS CLEVELAND 4-1 FOR FIRST VICTORY OF 2018 . iowawild.com . January 29, 2019 . January 7, 2018.
  12. Web site: Myers. Dan. First of many 'biggest games' looms for Wild on Saturday. NHL.com. Minnesota Wild. February 22, 2018. February 16, 2018.
  13. Web site: Myers. Dan. Seeler readies for NHL debut on Tuesday. NHL.com. Minnesota Wild. February 22, 2018. February 12, 2018.
  14. Web site: Myers. Dan. Postgame Hat Trick: Wild 4, Devils 2. NHL.com. February 22, 2018. February 22, 2018.
  15. News: Mizutani. Dane. Wild tough guy Nick Seeler set to return from injury suffered in brawl. March 13, 2018. St. Paul Pioneer Press. March 13, 2018.
  16. Web site: Pierce. Jessi. Avalanche at Wild preview. NHL.com. March 13, 2018. March 13, 2018.
  17. Web site: Campbell. Tim. Wild seeking more from top line in Game 2 against Jets. NHL.com. April 21, 2018. April 12, 2018.
  18. Web site: Wild agree to three-year deal with defenseman Seeler . foxsports.com . July 1, 2018 . July 1, 2018.
  19. Web site: Myers . Dan . Postgame Hat Trick: Wild 5, Blues 1 . NHL.com . November 4, 2018 . November 3, 2018.
  20. News: Release: Blackhawks Claim Nick Seeler . National Hockey League . Chicago Blackhawks Communications . February 3, 2020 . October 19, 2021.
  21. News: McLellan . Sarah . Nick Seeler doesn't have to leave town to change teams from Wild to Blackhawks . . February 5, 2020 . October 19, 2021.
  22. News: Roumeliotis . Charlie . Blackhawks place Nick Seeler on unconditional waivers . . January 16, 2021 . October 19, 2021.
  23. News: Baum . Carter . News: Blackhawks Announce 2020 Playoff Roster . National Hockey League . Chicago Blackhawks . July 26, 2020 . October 19, 2021.
  24. Web site: Blackhawks place Nick Seeler on unconditional waivers . prohockeyrumors.com . January 16, 2021 . January 16, 2021.
  25. News: Flyers sign five players to two-way deals . National Hockey League . Philadelphia Flyers . July 28, 2021 . October 19, 2021.
  26. News: Hall . Jordan . One thing after another: Flyers facing slew of weird obstacles as opener arrives . . October 14, 2021 . October 19, 2021.
  27. News: Hall . Jordan . Fights and 6 goals from Flyers in rout of Kraken . NBC Sports Philadelphia . October 18, 2021 . October 19, 2021.
  28. Web site: Hall . Jordan . A surprise at LW as Flyers look to avoid tying franchise's worst-ever skid . NBC Sports . January 24, 2022 . January 24, 2022.
  29. Web site: Flyers re-sign defenseman Nick Seeler . . May 20, 2022 . May 20, 2022.
  30. Web site: Flyers Sign Defenseman Nick Seeler to a Four-Year Contract Extension . NHL.com . March 14, 2024 . March 6, 2024.
  31. Web site: 20 MAVS NAMED NCHC ACADEMIC ALL-CONFERENCE . omavs.com . January 1, 2019 . March 11, 2014.
  32. Web site: Gophers Announce Award Winners . gophersports.com . January 1, 2019 . March 22, 2016.
  33. Web site: Gophers Earn Academic All-B1G Laurels . gophersports.com . January 1, 2019 . March 23, 2016.