Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider has been generating buzz from his impressive rookie season. This player is the subject of many trade rumors, but this article provides an in-depth analysis that should help you decide for yourself whether or not he will be worth trading away.
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider is the NHL’s top rookie. The young German has been a key part of Detroit’s success this season, and he’s also one of the most exciting players in the league. Read more in detail here: detroit hockey team.
Moritz Seider’s first name has an exotic flavor to it when said. He takes the letter “R” and brings it to the back of his throat, deemphasizing the sharpness of the letter that non-German speakers generally use while trying to utter it.
He’s been hearing “Mor-EETZ” for the last 20 years. He’s also heard “MORT-eez,” which he finds perplexing. As a result, the rookie Detroit Red Wings player chose the course of least resistance.
To the majority of people, he is simply referred to as “Mo.”
“There aren’t many individuals who can say ‘Moritz.’ That’s all I’ve got to say about it “Last week, the defender told ESPN. “As a result, I vote for Mo. And, to be honest, I enjoy Mo. It’s simple. It’s straightforward. You can also say it rather loudly, which makes it easier for certain ice hockey players.”
This season, his name has been heard a lot in Detroit. It comes up in conversations about the Calder Trophy because Seider, 20, is one of the leading contenders for NHL rookie of the year, with teammate Lucas Raymond.
They’ve mostly heard his name during game play. In 56 games, no Red Wings skater has logged more ice time than Seider, who has averaged 23:02 in ice time per game, despite being a rookie. Only one rookie defender has played as much as Seider this season in the last ten years: Miro Heiskanen of the Dallas Stars in 2018-19 (23:07), and the difference is only five seconds on average.
Did Seider anticipate such a large role in his debut NHL season?
“Not really,” Seider said. “Coming into this year, my goal was to simply obtain a position and play on a night-to-night basis. Playing a strong game and developing chemistry with all of the ‘Ds’ on the squad is all that is required.”
2 Related
Jeff Blashill, his coach, had a different expectation. Last season, he saw Seider play in Germany, the AHL, and Sweden’s top league. He saw a guy that could handle a lot of ice time and play in all kinds of situations.
“His influence on those squads was enormous. We thought he had a potential to be a pretty good player early on as the year progressed “Blashill, who saw Seider play more than 20 minutes each night in 12 of his first 13 NHL games, agreed. “I’m not a big fan of paying heed to birth certificates. I believe that how successful they are is more essential.”
The importance of Seider to the Red Wings this season cannot be overstated. It’s not only the fact that he has a lot of time on his hands. It’s also his 41 points in 56 games, which put him in fourth place among rookies. His skating and passing, as well as his stature (6-foot-4) and toughness, have always been strong points in his game.
Only Colorado’s Cale Makar (0.88) and Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes (0.78) have had greater rookie defender points per game averages than Seider since the 2005-06 season (0.73). Neither of them could match Seider’s all-around performance as a rookie, which included 1:47 of shorthanded ice time per game.
“Mo is unique in that he is a defender who can play in every circumstance. On the power play, he’s the first out. On the penalty kill, he’s the first to go. He’s up against the top players on the other squad “According to Blashill. “Now I understand that [points] are the simplest stat to keep track of. Production is linked to who the top defenders are. They are, without a doubt, a part of it. But, in the end, I believe the greatest defenders in the NHL are versatile guys who can play in a variety of scenarios.”
Scott Niedermayer, one of Seider’s childhood heroes, was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame for doing just that.
“I was enthralled by his skating, especially the way he moved the ball from the D-zone to the O-zone,” Seider remarked.
Growing up in Germany, he looked up to a number of talented defensemen.
This season, ESPN, ESPN+, Hulu, and ABC will broadcast 103 exclusive regular-season games, with more than 1,000 out-of-market games accessible on ESPN+. • • Subscribe to ESPN+ to watch. • Watch NHL games on ESPN.
Seider got the opportunity to play with the Adler Mannheim of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga as an invite player for a few of tournaments when he was 14 years old, and it was the start of their friendship. Seider was offered the opportunity to join them on a more permanent basis, but he wasn’t thrilled on the thought of living with a billet family away from home. His parents abandoned their professions, and the whole family moved to Mannheim so he could follow his ambition of playing hockey.
“My family went to great lengths to provide for me. Now I strive to return the favor. I’ll do all I can to assist them, and I’ll be grateful for every step they’ve made with me “he said “Because it’s out of the ordinary. You don’t know it as a youngster, but looking back now, it’s clear what my parents did for me.”
His parents keep an eye on his games, which often begin at 1 a.m. returning to Germany They sometimes sleep a couple of hours before puck drop to prepare for the game; other times, they push through and watch him without taking a nap.
“They’ve only missed one game all season, and it was when they couldn’t watch it because they were flying back from the United States to Germany. It’s simply incredibly cool, really cool, really cool, really nice, really cool, really cool “he said
Around the age of 16, Seider first heard someone claim he might be an NHL player. It was during this time that Seider had to decide if he wanted to play for Mannheim or for the NCAA.
Seider, who received offers from five Big Ten colleges but never visited any of them, stated, “I had a hard time determining if I wanted to become a pro or remain an amateur and play abroad.” “Overall, I was ecstatic to be given the opportunity to play professionally at such a young age. It was a fantastic experience for me.”
Despite being the sixth-ranked non-North American skater by NHL Central Scouting, the Red Wings picked him at No. 6 overall in 2019. To come closer to his expected range, GM Steve Yzerman pondered dealing down. When he couldn’t find an acceptable bargain, he chose him at number six.
At the 2019 draft, Yzerman noted, “In our perspective, he was one of the best defenseman in the draft.” “I know our fans don’t know much about him, but I believe they’ll be pleasantly pleased if they come to development camp and see him move, Google him, and see him play a little bit.”
The fact that Moritz Seider is a “all-situations” defender, according to Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill, is what makes him remarkable. USA TODAY Sports/Raj Mehta
Seider spent the 2019-20 season with the AHL Grand Rapids, accumulating 22 points in 49 games for the Red Wings’ top affiliate before the league was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the late start of the AHL’s 2020-21 season, the Wings loaned him to Rögle BK of the Swedish Hockey League. He was voted SHL defender of the year after playing in the championship round.
“I believe that was the best decision I could have made. As a player, I improved. As a person, I grew up. I learnt how to conduct myself in a professional manner “According to Seider.
Professional development may be described in a variety of ways. It signified off-ice maturity for Seider.
“”Things like how to eat the right manner,” he remarked, “can seem corny.” Making breakfast at home rather of going to the rink and eating at a breakfast bar is one example. I’m getting ready for bed. It’s time to rest. Simple things that you may not know make a difference, yet they are an important component of your success.”
With the allure of “Call of Duty” and EA Sports’ FIFA video games, determining how much sleep to get was a challenge for a young player. “All of your friends want to stay up late and play video games. However, you soon understand that if you want to be a good player, you must turn off your computer and go to bed early “According to Seider.
It all comes down to maturity. Although young vigor might be advantageous.
THE ADDITION OF Raymond and Seider has given the Red Wings a new lease of life, as they try to make their first playoff appearance since the 2015-16 season.
“They both have great personalities, in my opinion. They’re both decent individuals “Blashill said. “Moritz has a little more of a boisterous demeanor, but not in a negative manner. I believe he has given our squad a new lease of life.”
A slew of rookie forwards are fighting for the Calder Trophy. Along with Seider and Raymond, there’s Trevor Zegras of Anaheim, Tanner Jeannot of Nashville, Anton Lundell of Florida, and Michael Bunting of Toronto, who, at 26 years old, would be the NHL’s oldest rookie of the year since Sergei Makarov in 1990. Seider stands head and shoulders above the rest of the rookie defensive corps.
According to Blashill, there has been no teammate competition between Raymond and Seider for rookie awards.
He stated, “I believe they’re both wanting to be very successful young athletes.” “Winning is really important to both of them. I believe their emphasis has been on how they can contribute to our team’s success rather than on any specific prize.”
Seider concurred.
“First and foremost, it is beneficial to the company. Especially now that Ned has joined them “Seider was referring to goalkeeper Alex Nedeljkovic, who was a Calder finalist with the Carolina Hurricanes last season and is still eligible for the award this season with the Detroit Red Wings. “However, it has no bearing in our locker room. It’s not something we discuss. Every single one of us would gladly sacrifice [rookie hype] for a chance to play in the playoffs.”
Moritz Seider, right, and goalkeeper Alex Nedeljkovic, as well as teammate Lucas Raymond, are all candidates for the Calder Award as the NHL’s finest rookie. USA TODAY Sports/Raj Mehta
Raymond and Seider have provided the Red Wings with a focus on the future that they have lacked in recent years. The Red Wings are still in the midst of a rebuild, with Money Puck giving them a 0.1 percent chance of reaching the playoffs, but it’s been interesting to observe how Seider has grown during the season.
“Every single day is a great delight. We have a fantastic group of people that make it so simple for me to come in and be myself “According to Seider.
He attributes the smooth transition to veterans like Nick Leddy on the Wings. “That allows you to attempt the extra move while knowing they’ve got your back,” he said.
Blashill praised Seider’s ability to play with a variety of defensive mates, saying it demonstrates his development.
“He’s a tough man who enjoys getting his hands dirty. I believe he had to learn how to use his body against stronger opponents. And I believe that the NHL’s guys are clearly world-class athletes “According to Blashill.
“He’s still figuring out how big of a bite he can take in various conditions. When he is able to enter the game. To be a component in joining the rush, not necessarily to lead it. When should he assault and when should he wait another day? Those are things that are improving for Mo, and I believe they will continue to do so.”
Moritz, Mo. Whatever his name is, he’ll be remembered as a key figure in the Detroit Red Wings’ resurgence and as the NHL’s best rookie this season.
