We are still a few weeks away from the start of the 2016 NHL season, and the New York Islanders are adding more defense to their lineup.
TSN’s Darren Dreger was the first to report it as the New York Islanders are expected to sign former Bruin defenseman Dennis Seidenberg. However, he won’t join the team until the World Cup of Hockey concludes. Arthur Staple of Newsday would end up reporting that the deal is for one year and is worth one million. This is a low risk, high reward type of contract as he is 35 years old and is getting towards the end of his career.
He has spent the last seven seasons in Boston. He has 23 goals and 94 assists in over 400 games. He brings depth to the Islanders defense and brings that big guy presence. It should also be noted that he had two years left on his deal with Boston, but in July they bought him out. Currently, he is on Team Europe as they look to win the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
I mentioned before that he is 35 years old. He has been in the NHL for thirteen seasons, and the last seven are with the Bruins. What Islander fans should take notice of is the health of Johnny Boychuck with this signing? Boychuk missed practice on Saturday due to an upper-body injury. According to head coach Jack Capuano, it was an injury that was nagging him for some time before he went to the see the team doctors. It should be clearer on his condition tomorrow when the team resumes practice in East Meadow, Long Island.
If he is healthier, then other Islanders may be put on notice as he could take their spot. As far as Dennis Seidenberg signing with the Islanders, it is a good deal as it adds depth to the defense line and gives the Islanders another big man.
The 2016 NHL season gets rolling in a few weeks as the New York Islanders look to make it back to the playoffs in their second year at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.