I'd be willing to bet you that Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney is kicking himself right now for failing to sign former UFA defenseman Cody Franson. Sweeney spent the summer of 2015 pursuing the big, mobile defenseman. His pursuit of Franson ended two weeks ago when the former Toronto Maple Leaf and Nashville Predators rear guard agreed to a two year, $6.65 million contract with Bruins division rival the Buffalo Sabres.
Franson would have added needed depth to a new-look Bruins D corps that was made weaker by the trade of young star Dougie Hamilton to the Calgary Flames.
Sweeney was dealt another stinging blow to the solar plexus today when it was learned that Bruins defenseman Dennis Seidenberg will undergo "a lumbar microdiscectomy surgery to repair a lumbar spine disc herniation on Thursday. Seidenberg will now be sidelined for approximately eight weeks, if not longer.
The 34 year old Seidenberg has been hampered by injuries the past few seasons. Seidenberg played in all 82 regular season games last season. However he played in only 34 games in 2013-14 and and only 46 games in 2012-13.
Before the Seidenberg surgery news was announced, the Bruins were preparing to play with a rebuilt back end that features an aging 39 year old Zdeno Chara, surgically repaired Adam McQuaid and Kevan Miller, Torey Krug, Matt Irwin, and Zach Trotman.
The Seidenberg injury will no doubt force Sweeney to pursue a trade in the weeks to come to fill the gaping hole left behind by the veteran German puck mover.
The Bruins do not appear to have a suitable NHL-ready prospect that can be promoted from Providence to the Bruins.
Sweeney currently has $4.7 million is available cap space to invest in a replacement for Seidenberg.
Sweeney may want to get on the phone and call Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray who has a surplus of D-men in training camp right now. Dan Bylsma will play veterans Zach Bogosian, Rasmus Ristolainen, Josh Gorges, Cody Franson, Mark Pysyk, and Mike Weber. However, the Sabres have Matt Donovan and Carlo Colaiocovo in camp competing for playing time in Buffalo this season. Prospect Jake McCabe is also competing for the sixth and seventh defense roster spot. Tim Murray and Bylsma are also high on 2015 draft choice Brendan Guhle who has impressed the Buffalo brass in scrimmages and exhibition game in the Minnesota on Monday night.