Instant Analysis: A Cup Of Hot Apple Seidenberg
The Boston Bruins make their second deal of deadline day, acquiring veteran defenceman Dennis Seidenberg and prospect Matt Bartowski.
The Trade
To Boston: Dennis Seidenberg, Matt Bartkowski
To Florida: Byron Bitz, Craig Weller, 2010 2nd Round Pick
From Boston’s Standpoint
Earlier in the day, the Bruins sent Derek Morris to Phoenix, which was closely related to this deal. Seidenberg will add a veteran presence to Boston’s blueline — and more importantly, skill. Seidenberg has bounced between teams over the last few seasons, but is a big, reliable defenceman who put up 30 points for the Hurricanes last season and played for Team Germany at the 2010 Olympics. Seidenberg made a name for himself in last year’s playoffs with Carolina, where he was arguably their best defenseman as the Hurricanes reached the Conference Finals. Bartkowski plays for Ohio State, and is a long way from the NHL.
From Florida’s Standpoint
The Panthers will be one of the busiest teams today, as GM Randy Sexton has stated several times. The Panthers get NHL grinder Byron Bitz and AHL regular Craig Weller, but more importantly get a 2nd round pick out of the deal. The picks and prospects the Panthers acquire today will start them on the path to rebuilding.
Final Thoughts
Rumours have been flying about Seidenberg being dealt for weeks, so this comes as no surprise. The Bruins really need a winger to play with Marc Savard, but Claude Julien is all about defense, so this deal makes sense. Byron Bitz and Craig Weller won’t do much in Florida, but Seidenberg could help the B’s sneak into the post-season. Seidenberg is definitely an upgrade from Derek Morris, but the Bruins are still thin on the blueline.
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