WILMINGTON — Last year defenseman Dennis Seidenberg didn’t know where he’d be playing the coming season. A free agent, he had yet to find the right deal and didn’t become a Florida Panther until two days in to training camp. After being traded to the Bruins and locked up by the team in the offseason, Seidenberg is getting an early start this year, taking part in captain’s practices in anticipation for the coming season.

“It’s nice, Seidenberg said of starting the preseason process in a situation with which he’s familiar. “I know everybody. I know what to expect, so I think I can just build on what I did last year. I’m really looking forward to getting started and just get going.”

After missing the playoffs with a lacerated tendon in his left forearm, Seidenberg said he is experiencing “no problems at all” and has felt healthy since June. He may begin wearing protective sleeves and socks to prevent any cuts in the future.

A teammate of Nathan Horton’s last season with the Panthers, Seidenberg echoed the winger’s comments about coming into a playoff atmosphere and how it should help Horton.

“I think he’ll flourish a lot. Florida I think can get old after seven years of there and just not being in a hockey city,” Seidenberg said. “I think being here is going to help him a lot, energize him, and I think he’ll be playing great here.”

The Panthers opened last season in Helsinki, Finland, so Seidenberg might know what to expect a bit this year when the team travels to Belfast and Prague. Seidenberg admitted that aspects of all the travel were “a lot to handle” at times, but called it a good experience.

A native of Germany, Seidenberg expects family to make the eight-hour drive to watch the B’s open the season October 9 against the Coyotes.