Not even 24-hours after Shawn Thornton received a two-year extension, Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today that defenseman Dennis Seidenberg was inked to a new four-year contract extension.

Seidenberg was dealt to the B’s, along with Matt Bartkowski, from the Florida Panther on the Mar. 3, NHL trade deadline for Craig Weller, Byron Bitz and a 2010 second round pick (TBL). And now  re-signed through 2014, makes the trade more like highway robbery: advantage Boston.

The 28-year-old skated in 17 games in Boston this season and notched 2-7-9 totals. Between Boston and Florida, the German blue-liner set a career high in assists (28), points (32), games played (79), and led the NHL in blocked shots (215).

Seidenberg also underwent successful surgery to repair a tendon in his forearm on Apr. 6 after sustaining a laceration on Apr. 3 in a game against Toronto. The expected recovery time was eight weeks — enough time for the 6’1″ defenseman to be ready for training camp.

With Seidenberg now in the fold for the next four years, the Bruins have a solid 1-2 punch (alongside Zdeno Chara) on the back-end for next season. Matt Huwick, Andrew Ference, Chara, and Seidenberg are all under contract next year–and barring any trades–will be the  starting five for the 2010-11 NHL season. That now leaves Mark Stuart (RFA) and Johnny Boychuk (UFA) as the only two not guaranteed a spot in Black-and-Gold….yet. And both somehow need to be inked and back in Black next season.