A lot of big NHL news might be escaping us while the Flyers and Blackhawks battle it out in the Stanley Cup Finals, but Dennis Seidenberg, a former Flyer, has provided the hockey world with a headline we’d all be remiss to overlook.
With the big payday most professional athletes are seeking in today’s sporting world, Dennis, a concrete two-way defensemen if ever there was one, opted for easy transition and job security over free agent millions and signed a four-year extension with the Boston Bruins for roughly $13 million.
Now, no one is going to get the NHL’s Seidenberg confused with the NBA’s LeBron James in terms of free agent worth, but if Dennis would have waited until July 1 to make his decision, he could been wooed by multiple teams in need of his presence, and would have ultimately picked up at least $4 million per year.
The Bruins decided not to gamble on signing Dennis as an unrestricted free agent last year. Although Boston has been known to lay all their chips on the table for instant gratification, they decided not to play blackjack with the 28-year-old “pain sponge,” and instead opted for a one-year deal with Derek Morris.
The Florida Panthers were the only team to take a risk with Seidenberg, and he showed his appreciation by having a career year and adding some respectability to a Florida squad in desperate need of it.
Boston then grabbed him up before the season’s end for a solid 17-game performance. Dennis’ resigning with Boston might be a lesser paycheck for him, but it’s a sign that Seidenberg’s a guy willing to forego the holdouts and demands for a place to play and a stable contract.
That in itself takes a level of toughness that only an NHL player can provide. Other athletes from other sports could learn a valuable lesson.
