As he has labored through his first season in the NHL, Detroit Red Wings rookie Moritz Seider has performed to such a level of dominance he stands to earn an honor that eluded Steve Yzerman, Nicklas Lidstrom and Sergei Fedorov.
With just Friday’s game at the New Jersey Devils remaining, Seider needs one point to become Wings’ first defenseman to reach 50 since Lidstrom had 62 in 2010-11. Seider has six goals and 43 assists. He registered six shots on net in Tuesday’s 3-0 loss at Toronto, playing north of 25 minutes. From topping 20 minutes in his NHL debut back on Oct. 14, Seider has excelled.
“He’s an unbelievable player,” veteran forward Sam Gagner said after the Leafs game. “Does it on both sides of the puck. He’s running our power play, he’s playing big minutes defensively, penalty kill, you name it. He does it all for us and already at his age, he’s a leader for us. You see he has that ability to read a room and understand what’s needed from an off-ice perspective as well. He’s a great player, great person, and he’s going to continue to build.”
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As demands grew, there were times Seider needed to regroup.
“Sure, I was a little bit overwhelmed,” he said. “It’s a big step, playing in the best league in the world, but the boys are making it very easy day by day. It’s been so much fun working with everyone and that’s where I get my confidence. I just want to go out there and play with them.”
The way Seider, who turned 21 on April 6, has played has moved the needle on the rebuild. His arrival had been a source of excitement and anticipation since Yzerman drafted Seider at No. 6 in 2019. Seider spent a season in the AHL, and then was loaned to Rögle in the Swedish Hockey League in the fall of 2020, when European hockey leagues started up while North American leagues were still delayed by the pandemic. It was an excellent move for Seider, who was named SHL defenseman of the year.
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Now he’s poised to add to that honor. The Wings haven’t had a Calder Trophy winner since goaltender Roger Crozier in 1965. Yzerman was runner-up to Tom Barrasso in 1984, Fedorov to Ed Belfour in 1991, and Lidstrom to Pavel Bure in 1992. Seider’s top competition for the annual award, voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association, are forwards Michael Bunting (Toronto Maple Leafs), Trevor Zegras (Anaheim Ducks), Anton Lundell (Florida Panthers), Tanner Jeannot (Nashville Predators) and teammate Lucas Raymond.
“It’s a great honor to be named with a lot of good talent in this league,” Seider said.
He hasn’t paid much attention, though, and he eschews social media, calling it “an unnecessary distraction.” What he craves is to play hockey, and when he can’t do it any more this season for the Wings, his plan is to represent Germany at the World Championship in May.
Seider called it “a great challenge” to thrive through an 82-game NHL season.
“I’ve never played that many games in a short amount of time,” he said. One of the people who helped him cope was Lidstrom, who told Seider “to be mentally prepared for a long season, and that’s what I worked on.”
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It’s helped that Seider is 6 feet 4 and 197 pounds, giving him the size to help with the demands the Wings put on him from his first game.
“He’s got physical tools to match against anybody at a young age,” Blashill said. “His size, skating, strength combo certainly can continue to get better, but it’s really good. There’s very few athletes in the league that an go head-to-head with the other best athletes.
“I think Seids has a healthy respect for opponents but doesn’t fear anybody at all, and that’s what normally really good players do. He’s got respect for people, but he’s not going to take a back seat to anybody. That’s his demeanor. I think it’s allowed him to not be awed at all and go up against the other team’s best. Most young defensemen struggle in this league and it takes them a little bit longer than it takes forwards, generally. For him to be able to have this success that he’s had is really impressive. There’s a lot that’s been asked a lot of him, and he’s done a good job answering the bell.”
Seider’s made himself a home in Detroit, where he projects to play a major role in Yzerman’s plan to get the Wings back to the playoffs, back to contending for a Stanley Cup. When he isn’t going to work with a smile on his face, he’s decompressing with the same group.
“I just like to be around the boys and go for dinner or coffee, do something together and have good conversations,” Seider said. “That’s what it’s all about.”
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter. Her book, The Big 50: The Detroit Red Wings is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.