Dennis Seidenberg practiced with the Boston Bruins this week, wearing a no contact jersey, five weeks after surgery on his back which was scheduled to take two months to heal. “He still has a ways to go, definitely can’t take any contact.” said coach Claude Julien of Seidenberg’s participation, “Just took the line drills and the puck moving part of it.”
Puck Prose
Although it is still most likely a few more weeks before Seidenberg sees any game action, Julien felt that it was important to get his veteran defenseman out with his teammates, even if for just some of the drills. “For him, it was more to get him more encouraged by being around other players out there. The fact that he’s able to be out there with us is definitely encouraging for him.”
As said, his return remains distant, but that will not stop Bruins fans or management from thinking ahead to that date and what will need to happen when it comes. As of right now, the Boston Bruins have Zdeno Chara, Torey Krug, Adam McQuaid, Kevan Miller, Colin Miller, Joe Morrow and Zach Trotman as their seven defensemen. Having Dennis Seidenberg’s NHL experience back in the lineup will undoubtedly help the Bruins in some respects of the game, but it will also lead to at least one of the other Bruins heading down to Providence.
Apr 8, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Dennis Seidenberg (44) checks Washington Capitals center Michael Latta (46) as they battle for the puck in the third period at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
It appears, based on the early goings of the regular season, that Zach Trotman would be the number one choice to go back to playing with the Providence Bruins. It would be best for Trotman to get some actual games under his belt this year, as that would be the most effective way for him to stay in top condition.
As far as the other roster players are concerned, sitting Joe Morrow or Colin Miller would be a shame, since both of them seem to be doing quite well in the NHL thus far. Scratching Chara, Krug or McQuaid seems out of the question, so that leaves Kevan Miller as the final choice. Kevan Miller is also currently day to day, missing the Bruins most recent practice, so if whatever ailment he has been suffering from gets worse, it would be an even more obvious choice as to whom Seidenberg would replace.
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With Seidenberg returning and forcing another player out of the lineup, the expectation for him to be in top form and a clear improvement to the team’s defense is quite clear. It has been too long since we last saw the player that Dennis Seidenberg once was, and if there are any signs of Seidenberg struggling, I believe that the coaching staff should consider him as a healthy scratch option as well.
Whatever ends up happening, it is true that too many NHL ready players is always a good problem to have more so than a bad one. I am confident that, when the time comes, and Dennis Seidenberg does in fact return to the Bruins roster, coach Julien will know exactly what the best move is for the team and for Seidenberg.
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