Bruins Add Seidenberg; Trade Byron Bitz
 

BOSTON, MA – Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today that the club has acquired defensemen Dennis Seidenberg and Matt Bartkowski from the Florida Panthers in exchange for forwards Byron Bitz and Craig Weller and a second round draft pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. The second round pick in 2010 will be Tampa Bay’s, which Boston acquired at last year’s trade deadline along with Mark Recchi, in exchange for Matt Lashoff and Martins Karsums.

The 28-year-old Seidenberg has skated in 62 games with the Panthers this season, registering 2-21=23 totals and 33 PIM. He currently leads the NHL in blocked shots with 179. Seidenberg has played 376 games in the NHL earning 17-96=113 totals and 162 PIM. The 6’1” 210-pound native of Schwenningen, Germany was selected in the sixth round (172nd overall) by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He recently competed on Team Germany with Bruins forward Marco Sturm at the 2010 Olympic Games, and has been a teammate of Sturm's in four international tournaments (2001 Worlds, 2002 Olympics, 2008 Worlds, 2010 Olympics). Boston will be the fifth NHL team Seidenberg has suited up for, along with Philadelphia, Phoenix, Carolina and Florida. He set career highs in all offensive categories with Carolina in 2008-09 with 5-25=30 totals in 70 games played.

The 21-year-old Bartkowski has skated in 34 games for Ohio State University this year, registering 4-12=16 totals and 16 PIM. Over two seasons with the Buckeyes, Bartkowski has played in 75 games recording 9-27=36 totals and 133 PIM. The 6’1” 196-pound native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was selected by the Florida Panthers in the seventh round (190th overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

The 25-year-old Bitz has appeared in 45 games with the Bruins this season, recording 4-5=9 totals. Bitz has played in 85 career NHL games and earned 9-9=18 totals. The 6’5” 215-pound Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native was selected by the Bruins in the fourth round (107th) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

The 29-year-old Weller has skated in 55 games with the Providence Bruins (American Hockey League) this season, totaling 4 goals and 10 assists. Weller has skated in 95 career NHL games, recording 4-10=14 totals. The 6’4” 220-pound native of Calgary, Alberta was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the fifth round (167th overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

Still waiting for a forward, Chiarelli...

Funny, they just called Bitz a power forward!

ehhh whatever

Boston fans how do you feel about getting Seidenberg and shipping out Morris?

Seidenberg just a little > than Morris? Or do you think it's a big upgrade?

Also a 2nd round pick leaving?

I don't see it as much of an upgrade. Seems pretty pointless to me.

I'd rather have Morris than Seidenberg. I don't see it being an upgrade at all.

That's what I was thinking and wasting a 2nd round pick on it too. I think it's a bad move by Boston. Seems like a good trade by FLA.

Seidenberg is a bit better but I'm not sure he's 2 draft rounds better...
Bitz and Weller were just fillers in the Boston organization, I'm fine with them leaving. It doesn't seem like this Bartecko guy is anything to write home about either.

I guess they liked Seidenberg more than Morris. A lot more to throw in Bitz and Weller and a 2nd round pick.

2nd rounders are apparently a hot commodity in this years draft, getting passed around like hotcakes

wasn't weller a waiver pick up from PHO, correct me if im wrong.

The Bruins got Weller from Minnesota.

Seidenberg is better than Morris. Seidenberg leads the league in blocked shots, and is much better than Morris at moving the puck.

Bitz is nothing more than a 4th liner, with no real potential to be anything more than that.

It addresses one area of need for the Bruins, but they desperately need a Top 6 forward.

it almost seems like every deal needs to have a 2nd rd draft pick involved. for what boston gave up in this deal and to get rid of morris. they got hosed.

Florida is trading for 2nd draft picks. I think that is what Sexton and the new owners wants to do, rebuild the team with draft picks.

But they have been doing that for the past 10 years.