Bruins Sign Defenseman Seidenberg to Four-Year Contract

The Boston Bruins announced today that they have signed defenseman Dennis Seidenberg to a four-year contract worth $13 million. The deal averages out to $3.25 million per season. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Bruins acquired the 28-year-old defenseman on March 3 from the Florida Panthers in exchange for Craig Weller, Byron Bitz, and a second round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft. In 79 games last season with the Panthers and Bruins, Seidenberg had four goals and 28 assists for 32 points. He missed the last four games of the regular season and all 13 of Boston's playoff games with a wrist injury. In 374 career NHL games with the Philadelphia Flyers, Phoenix Coyotes, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, and Boston Bruins, he has 18 goals and 98 assists for 116 points. Not a bad signing for the Bruins, as Seidenberg is quickly establishing himself as a top-four defenseman in the league. He's good on the power play and penalty kill, has sound defensive skills, and can chip in a goal from time to time. With two goals and seven assists in 17 games with the Bruins, he should be an effective point producer on the blueline for the team.