McKenna: Figuring out the secret to Red Wings rookie Moritz Seider’s success
By: Mike McKenna
Mortiz Seider of the Detroit Red Wings has 10 points in 13 games and currently leads all NHL rookie defensemen in scoring. He’s averaging almost 23 minutes in ice time and quarterbacking the Wings’ power play.
In recent years, only a few names have achieved the same level of success over the course of their first season in the NHL. Quinn Hughes. Cale Makar. Adam Fox. All three are superstar defensemen under the age of 23 – with big money, long-term contracts to show for it.
Seider will almost certainly be paid handsomely when his entry-level contract expires at the end of the 2023-24 season. And the Red Wings should be happy to pay the former No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, who hails from Zell Mosel, Germany.
When I watch Seider play, I see a very mature player. He uses his 6-foot-4 frame to leverage pucks from opponents and create space for himself. Seider’s skating stride is incredibly fluid and he takes smart routes to the puck carrier.
Usually rookies have some hesitation to their game. They’ll second guess decisions or let veteran players dictate on the ice.
That’s not Moritz Seider.
In each of these examples, Seider is able to close the gap in a calculated, deliberate manner. He doesn’t rush to the opponent. He’s attacking at the right moment and doing so at an angle that gives his team the best chance to recover the puck.
To me, that’s very impressive for a 20-year-old defenseman with only one season of North American hockey under his belt.
At 18, Seider spent the 2019-20 season with the Red Wings’ AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins. He amassed 22 points in 49 games, an admirable total for any blueliner in the top development league of North America. But for an 18 year old? That’s incredibly rare.
Seider then suited up 41 times for Rögle BK of the Swedish Hockey League last season, scoring 7 goals and tallying 21 assists. His offensive game took another step forward.
I see his confidence shine when the puck is on his stick. Seider is quick to get shots through to the net and attack downhill with his skating. He knows what he’s going to do with the puck before it arrives. That, in turn, has sped up the Red Wings’ offense.
There’s an inherent hockey sense to Seider’s game that allows him to function above the noise. Rarely do I see him over-handle a puck or try to force something that isn’t there. If space exists, Seider will take it and attempt a shot. If the lane is blocked, he’ll automatically pivot to Plan B and dish the puck before defenders can get set.
With a team like Detroit that is stocked with young talent, Seider’s simple, direct approach makes him easy to play with. I see Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond routinely in position early. They know where to go in the offensive zone and they trust Seider will get them the puck. And it’s especially true on the power play.
Seider is the rare NHL rookie defenseman to run his team’s power play from the middle blue line. Coaches are incredibly hesitant to trust young players with the responsibility of being the last line of defense, even with the man advantage.
From my chair, it’s obvious that Seider’s pro hockey experience at a young age has instilled a great deal of poise. He’s the main puck distributor on the Red Wings’ power play.
All of these clips look simple. And they are! But Seider is leading NHL rookie defensemen in power-play points (five assists) for a reason. His stick blade is always open and available for a teammate. He doesn’t waste time stickhandling. Seider pivots well and is decisive with the puck. And his Red Wings teammates are finishing.
What’s really surprising about Seider is that it’s hard to find any underlying analytics that give pause for concern. Generally speaking, an offensive-minded defenseman as young as Seider will experience growing pains defensively.
That hasn’t been the case with this German rookie. Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill has put Seider on the ice for more faceoffs in the defensive zone than offensive during 5-on-5 play. And he’s been on the ice for 19 goals for and 14 against.
Detroit – led by general manager Steve Yzerman – have quietly built a team that’s knocking on the Stanley Cup Playoffs door. Some might argue the Red Wings are ahead of schedule. And maybe that’s true to a certain extent. But with young talent like Moritz Seider already playing at an elite level, I’d expect continued improvement in the Motor City.