The Islanders' decision to sign the veteran defenseman in 2016-17 proved to be a shrewd move, but going back to the well a second time probably wasn't. Last year, Seidenberg was a healthy scratch for most of the season and the German only produced five points in 28 games. Of course, Seidenberg has never been one to produce a lot of offense. In 859 career games over 15 years, he has posted 44 goals and 251 points with a plus-39 rating. Still associated with the Isles having been invited to training camp, he's safe to ignore in all fantasy circles.
Seidenberg's first season with the Islanders resulted in some unexpected improvement, as he broke 20 points for the first time since 2011-12 and posted a career-best plus-25 rating. That’s about as much as you can ask for from the German veteran, who’s on the back end of his career at age 36. Owners in fantasy formats that count hits and blocks will find him useful, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see both the plus-minus and the point total fall back this year.
Seidenberg logged just one goal and 11 assists in 61 games for the Bruins last season. While the 35-year-old has appeared to lose a step since suffering a severe knee injury in 2013-14, his experience and sturdy play could bolster some team’s back line, but he remains unsigned at this time.
As one of just two Bruins to play in all 82 of the team's games in 2014-15, Seidenberg's resilience can't be questioned, but on the heels of bouncing back from major right knee surgery, the sturdy blueliner, at times, looked less explosive than in past seasons, en route to notching just three goals and 13 points, to go along with a minus-1 rating. Now further removed from his knee woes though, there’s hope that the 34-year-old Seidenberg can, along with captain Zdeno Chara, engineer a bounce-back campaign thanks to an improved level of health. It’s something that the B’s are relying on, having parted ways with up-and-coming blueliner Dougie Hamilton. While Seidenberg’s offensive upside in fantasy is modest, he can help out in secondary categories, after recording 146 blocked shots and 212 hits last season.
Seidenberg, who is bouncing back from January surgery to repair a torn ACL and MCL, was sorely missed by the Bruins after his 2013-14 campaign was limited to 34 games due to a knee injury. The expectation is that the sturdy rearguard will be ready for training camp, and assuming no setbacks with his knee. The 33-year-old will resume his role as rugged and defensively-sound defenseman, who will chew up ice time. Seidenberg is a shutdown defender who is generally strong in the plus/minus category and has a knack for blocking shots. Apart from the fact that he is bouncing back from an injury, the reason that Seidenberg falls into this category is that he is a prime example of a player who is far more valuable in real terms than he is to fantasy owners.
Seidenberg, who notched a modest 17 points in 46 games last season, remains a sturdy, dependable rear guard who chews up ice time while playing a defensively sound and rugged brand of hockey in all areas of the ice. Despite his physical style, he doesn’t record up a ton of PIMs, though from a fantasy perspective, he usually contributes in the plus/minus category (he was plus-18 last season) as well as in the blocks department. He racked up 115 blocked shots in 2012-13, good for eighth in the league.
Seidenberg is a classic case of a player whose stats (23 points in 80 games) do not match up with his actual value to the Bruins. He's a rugged, dependable blueliner that chews up ice time and plays a sound and physical game in all areas of the ice.
Seidenberg's regular season performance (32 points in 81 games) was solid, but it was in the playoffs that he shined brightest, playing a sound, rugged shutdown brand of hockey, while recording 11 points in 25 games. He's probably more valuable in real terms than in fantasy, but Seidenberg has just enough offensive game to help those in deeper formats.
Seidenberg is coming back from a lacerated tendon in his forearm, but the Bruins were very pleased with his performance in 17 games after being acquired from Florida, as he recorded two goals and seven assists in that span, finishing with four goals and 28 assists overall while leading the NHL in blocked shots with 215. The solid two-way blueliner is now under contract with the club through the 2013-14 campaign, and he figures to be a top-four defenseman in Boston from Day 1 this coming season.
Probably a third-line defenseman, but he's not going to be to be sent down to Albany with a $1.2 million paycheck. He has shown that he can score at a good pace if given the chance, but with several offense-minded rearguards in front of him, he's not likely to break through.
Seidenberg will get more playing time this season, but he has not yet demonstrated the ability to produce any fantasy value. He'll probably be on the team's third defensive pairing when he does play.
A defenseman with some offensive ability, Seidenberg won't be asked to play that role. Any points he contributes to the Coyotes will be a bonus and fantasy owners would be best to select another defenseman unless the league is a deep one.
