Nick Seeler

**Nick Seeler** (born on June 3, 1993 in Eden Prairie, Minnesota) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who who is currently an unrestricted free agent who played most recently under contract to the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL).

He was drafted by Minnesota in the fifth round (131st overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

## Playing Career

As a student at Eden Prairie High School for four years, Nick 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 during his junior year where he began to develop more as a player.

Before graduating, he 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

While in his senior year at Eden Prairie High School, he committed to play NCAA Division 1 hockey for the University of Nebraska Omaha. He was later drafted 131st overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota Wild.

Following the draft, Nick 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. 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

Nick then played for the University of Nebraska Omaha for two seasons before transferring to the University of Minnesota in 2014. He was not allowed to play in the 2014–15 season due to NCAA transfer rules. 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]

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

On February 11, 2018, Nick was called up to the NHL from the Iowa Wild and made his NHL debut the next day against the New York Rangers. He 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.

After his first NHL fight against Luke Witkowski on March 4, 2018, he missed three games due to a bicep strain. He returned to the lineup on March 13, 2018, to play in a 5–1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.

Nick made his playoff debut during the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets, recording two points in five games as the Wild lost in five games to the Jets.

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

During the 2019–20 season, on February 3, 2020, he was claimed by the Chicago Blackhawks off waivers from the Wild. He made 6 appearances with the Blackhawks registering 1 assist before the season was prematurely halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

## Personal Life

Nick is the son of Dan and Kris Seeler; he has two older sisters, Ashley and Kelly (who was a member of the Minnesota's national championship hockey team in 2012).