In middle of opener, Bruins announce 4-year contract extension for defenceman Seidenberg

BOSTON - The Boston Bruins have signed defenceman Dennis Seidenberg to a four-year contract extension.

The team announced the deal on Thursday between periods of its opening night game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The deal would keep Seidenberg in Boston through the 2017-18 season. The team says it has an annual cap figure of $4 million.

Seidenberg is entering his 12th NHL season, his fifth with the Bruins. Last season, he was sixth in the NHL in blocked shots and was third among defencemen with a plus-18.