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Yannic Seidenberg was one of Germany’s top prospects for the NHL Entry Draft 2002. And he will be one of Germany’s top prospects in 2003. Why? The reasons and many more are included in the following interview with him:

Hockey’s Future: Hi Yannic, first of all, congratulations on being named the best German prospect 2002, the best undrafted prospect during the season, by the visitors of Hockey’s Future.  Is it the first award or have you received lots of awards before?

Yannic Seidenberg: I think it’s the first award – not including the player of the game awards during the games and tournaments of course.

HF: As far as I know, you were with both Patricks (Ehelechner and Koslow) on vacation in Spain – how do you spend the rest of your summer time without hockey?

YS: Yes, we were in Spain after the Under-18 world championships. Now, I’m in my 10^th training week; I’m doing force training, running, perseverance – everything you need. However, I don’t do anything on the weekend. Just go to the lake or go out.

HF: Are you playing inline- or rollerhockey?

YS: Yes, I sometimes play inlinehockey on the weekend, but just for fun.

HF: From your point of view: how did the past season work out for you?

YS: As for Mannheim, it was naturally a big adjustment cause I didn’t get as much icetime as in the juniors. However, beginning in the second half of the season, it was okay for a rookie season. This year of learning helped me, I think.

HF: The German Under-18 national team was relegated from the A group. However, you became the team’s topscorer during the tournament. What’s your personal opinion on your achievement during this event?

YS: In my opinion, the other countries were simply too good for us and I believe we are rightfully relegated. It wasn’t very important that I became the topscorer, I would prefer that we had not been relegated.

HF: You were the German prospect with the best draft chances for the NHL Entry Draft 2002 since Alex Sulzer did not opt in. But you did not opt in either. Why?

YS: I agreed on this with my player agent. It wasn’t the right time, I think. I would like to play a good Under-20 world championship tournament to have better chances in 2003.

HF: Another Draft followed without your name a few days later. The Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League were interested in you. Why didn’t this happen?

YS: I didn’t know that the Petes were interested in drafting me. They didn’t contact me.

HF: So, another year in Mannheim. What are your goals for the upcoming season?

YS: I’m very hopeful that I'll receive a lot of icetime, will play a good season and develop further.....and finally: that we'll win the championship!

HF: What do you think about the new – very good – signings by your team? Especially forwards Klaus Kathan, Mike Kennedy and Thomas Martinec – maybe you will play a few shifts with them?

YS: I think our whole team is a very good one. The forwards are also more than very good as well.

HF: Do you have a hockey role model? Perhaps someone from you own team, Mannheim?

YS: The one I like is Joe Sakic. In Mannheim, I paid a lot of attention to Rene Corbet (00/01: Pittsburgh Penguins) and Michel Picard (signed with Detroit for the upcoming season). It was a lot of  fun to play with them.

HF: Your current coach, Bill Stewart gained a reputation in Barrie (OHL) as a coach who knows how to work with talents. How are your relationship to your coach and what advice has he given you?

YS: Our relationship is working well, we don’t have any problems with each other. Sometimes, he shows me things on the ice or on video tapes on which I have to work on.

HF: How was it to play in the same team with your brother? An advantage or sometimes strange to have him always around yourself?

YS: It was always a wish of mine to play together with him in a team. We have a superb relationship, unfortunately it’s now over due to his move to Philadelphia. However, it was an advantage for me. He helped me very much.

HF: Did you live together with him or do you have an own apartment?

YS: No, I used to live alone. Now, I moved into a bigger and more beautiful apartment.

HF: Philadelphia signed your brother to play for their AHL and maybe their NHL team. Would you have perhaps gone with him overseas to play in a CHL team or are your careers managed completely different?

YS: I will stay in Mannheim for the new season. If anything runs well, I will stay for a longer time, I think. But, you really know it when the situation comes. I will decide what’s best for me after this season.

HF: Which mid and long-term goals do you have for your hockey career?

YS: First, I will fight for a regular spot here in Mannheim. Naturally, my big dream is to play in the National Hockey League someday. The best would be alongside my brother in a NHL team.

HF: Do you know where the hockey talent of your family comes from? Was there any Seidenberg guy who played hockey before Dennis and you? Is there a third prospect like the Goc family has?

YS: ... I really don’t know where it comes from. Maybe a bit from my father, but nobody from our family has ever played hockey in the past …

HF: In 1998, you moved from your hometown Schwenningen to Mannheim, joining the Jungadler project. Was it – not only sport based – a large difference?

YS: Yes, it was a big advantage from the whole organization, the training possibilities, the school etc. I could better develop here. However, it was a very large adjustment for me. I had to leave my home as a 14 year old guy ... that wasn’t all that simple.

HF: Fabio Carciola and Thomas Schenkel already received a junior license in Mannheim like the one you got last season. They can play for a second league team, too. Thomas Fischer will follow them. How do you see the situation in Mannheim, are there some more prospects in the system?

YS: I think we will have some guys who can garner a junior license coming up every year. We have to see if they can also make the breakthrough.

HF: How do you generally see the German talents – due to the rules changes and reorientation of some general managers – is it in an upward trend?

YS: One can already see that there were some changes during the last few years. There are more and more Germans coming into the DEL. In addition, our national team also has a lot of talented young players who are able to play on the same level the others did.

HF: The next NHL Entry Draft is about one year away. At this draft, you are eligible – if you want to be or not – together with guys like Ehelechner, Kink, Koslow, Sulzer and maybe some others. Since you have already played against and with them: how are their chances – particularly, how are your chances?

YS: I think I cannot exactly say much about "chances". Everything will be looking quite different at the end of the season. For the most part, I assume Alex Sulzer and Patrick Koslow have good chances. Naturally, I hope to be drafted too. I will see how it works out. The earlier the round I could be drafted in, the better.

HF: How would you describe the player type Yannic Seidenberg, including all strengths and weaknesses?

YS: Oh … that's something others should do, they can certainly do it better. I can only say that I try to do everything as good as possible.

HF: Yes, I think, your scouting reports from the various scouts are comparable. They only have problems with your first name, because I saw a lot of different variants on their notes: Yannic, Yannick, Yanick and so on. What’s your “real and full name” and do you have a nick name?

YS: It is Yannic Seidenberg. So, only with the c. As for the nickname, I don’t have a real one so far.

HF: What was your best achievement and the most wonderful moment in your hockey career?

YS: The best moment was when I scored five goals in a game at the biggest youth tournament in Quebec! Also, the Under-18 World Championships in 2001, where we had to beat Sweden (or the Czech republic? … I don’t remember…) to reach the final round.

HF: It was the Czech Republic, which you beat 3-1. Is there something that fascinates you a lot in this sport of hockey and why it makes it a lot more fun to play than other sports like soccer, handball, tennis etc.?

YS: It’s really fun and I simply enjoy playing hockey. The toughness and the speed required is just fascinating. It’s a lot more fun because there’s always something happened throughout the whole game, which is not the case in soccer for example.

HF: Which NHL team is your favorite?

YS: It’s the Colorado Avalanche,... I really like that team.

HF: How is it for you to answer these interview questions? Do you sometimes wish there was the same attention as is devoted  to soccer players in Germany?

YS: It’s normal to answer these questions, a bit easier than on TV. It wouldn’t be bad if we could have some more attention here in Germany.

HF: Finally, what’s your biggest wish for the upcoming season / year? The championship, stay healthy … ?

YS: Stay healthy, suffering no injuries, winning the championship with Mannheim, a good graduation (German ‘Abitur’) and a good world championship.

HF: That’s all possible. So, thanks for your time and best wishes for your future and especially in the next season.