The long-rumored contract extension between the Chicago Blackhawks and veteran defenseman Brent Seabrook is reportedly close. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet tweeted Saturday that sources had indicated to him that the two sides are "closing in" on a deal which is likely to pay Seabrook an AAV of $6.85 million.

UPDATE, 8:10 PM: It's an eight-year deal for Seabrook. 

Friedman had reported earlier in the week that, following the extension hammered out between Erik Johnson and the Colorado Avalanche, talks between Seabrook and the Blackhawks were "moving in the right direction." He added then that "information was tight," so the fact that information seems to be flowing freer suggests that the deal may actually be in the offing sometime in the immediate future.

Assuming Friedman's report is accurate, this is big news for the Blackhawks and fans across Chicago. The 30-year-old Seabrook has proven his mettle time and again in the season's biggest moments for the franchise and has been a major component of their three Stanley Cup wins over the past six seasons. He's smack-dab in the middle of what usually constitute an NHL blueliner's prime years - assuming the deal carries him to his 35th or 36th birthday, the Hawks and GM Stan Bowman will have locked down one of the game's best defenseman for the duration of the best seasons of his career.

Seabrook is a true rarity in the NHL - he's got size, speed, skill and uses phenomenal positioning to his advantage against the league's various forwards. Not only are his ice-time and point numbers fantastic, Seabrook is also a possession statistic darling as he has posted a 50-plus Corsi for percentage at even strength every season he's been in the league.

Seabrook was set to enter the final year of a five-year, $29 million extension that began in 2011-12.