The closest Dennis Seidenberg had ever come to playing with his brother, Yannick, previously was when the younger Seidenberg sibling traveled to Boston for the Stanley Cup Finals against the Canucks.
It was a great couple of weeks for us, obviously, said Seidenberg, who arrived in Boston from Europe on Monday. He felt like he had won the Cup by the end of it.
But the two Seidenberg brothers finally got their wish to play together when older brother Dennis signed on to play with the Mannheim Eagles in Germany during the four month NHL lockout. The Bruins defenseman hadnt even been back on German soil in seven years after bursting onto the NHL scene and marrying an American woman. So it was easy to acknowledge that it was nice for Seidenberg to finally be home, and the 31-year-old managed to put up 20 points (2 goals, 18 assists) in 26 games for Mannheim.
It was nice playing with him and it lasted a few months longer than I expected, said Seidenberg. It was a good time and a good experience being on the same team with him. Just being home again was great. I hadnt been home in seven years. I got to hang out with people that I never really see any more, and I got to play for the team that got it all started for me.
But it was also bittersweet given the circumstances that kept him away from his regular gig guarding the Bruins net like a finely built German tank and lugging pucks straight up the ice.
Staying busy, skating in organized practices and keeping in game shape are things I enjoyed and Im certainly grateful for, said Seidenberg, who will once again play a big-minute role along the blue line for the Bruins this season. But now its time to get back and Im so excited to be back and ready to play.
Given the injury to Adam McQuaid that may delay his start to the season and an expected slow orientation process for rookie Dougie Hamilton if he makes the Bruins club, a good deal will be expected for Seidenberg along with Zdeno Chara. So its a good sign that he feels rested and ready to go, and even better that hes in midseason form with a scant week-long training camp beginning this weekend.