Bruins' Seidenberg says Boychuk return will be 'fun and weird and awkward'

Dennis Seidenberg and the Boston Bruins are experiencing a mixed bag of emotions ahead of Johnny Boychuk's return to TD Garden on Thursday night.

"It’ll be fun and weird, and awkward," Seidenberg told reporters.

Seidenberg admits the beloved ex-Bruin - who reportedly sent a farewell text message to each one of his former teammates following news of his trade just days before the season began - will be looked at differently than the rest of his New York Islanders teammates.

"It’s definitely going to be a little different feeling when guys forecheck him and have to hit him, or when I stand in front of the net and he shoots," he said.

"So it’ll be different. But at the end, it’s all about winning a hockey game."

Boychuk has had an immediate impact on Long Island. The defenseman has scored two goals, totaled six points, and leads the upstart Islanders in ice time, with general manager Garth Snow is already itching to sign him long-term.