Weller to Florida in Seidenberg deal

The Florida Panthers, parent club of the AHL’s Rochester Americans, have acquired forwards Byron Bitz and Craig Weller and Tampa Bay’s second-round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft from the Boston Bruins in exchange for defenseman Dennis Seidenberg and the rights to defenseman Matt Bartkowski.

Weller has played 60 games in the AHL this season between Providence and Houston, totaling four goals and 11 assists. In 351 career AHL games, Weller has recorded 42 goals and 57 assists for 99 points.

Bitz, who played college hockey at Cornell University, has played 45 games for Boston this season scoring four goals and five assists for nine points. For his NHL career, Bitz has scored eight goals and 16 points in 80 games.

Seidenberg, a Calder Cup champion with Philadelphia in 2005, has played in 357 career NHL games with Florida, Carolina, Phoenix and Philadelphia since making his debut in 2002-03.