Red Wings prospect Moritz Seider told DetroitRedWings.com’s Arthur J. Regner that he would prefer to play in North America this upcoming season, and Hockeybuzz’s Bob Duff has more on Seider’s remarks:
“It’s probably not Germany anymore,” Seider told Detroitredwings.com. “I decided for myself probably staying in the States for a couple years now.”
His objective is to carve out a place for himself on the Red Wings blueline. Should that not come to fruition, Seider is of the opinion that the best landing spot for him in terms of future development is with Detroit’s top farm club, the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins.
“First of all, it should be about making the team 100 percent,” Seider said. “That’s why I’m here. If that’s not possible, I think Detroit has a great AHL team. Grand Rapids is just two hours away. Maybe that’s the best way, stepping on the small ice.”
The assumption immediately after the draft was that if Seider didn’t make the Wings, he’d likely return to play again with Adler Mannheim in Germany’s top pro league. That’s where he spent the 2018-19 season. But he doesn’t view that as a very likely outcome.
“It’s probably the third possibility,” Seider said. “Just a low percentage. There’s always an outlet in Germany, that’s for sure. But first of all, it should be Grand Rapids or Detroit.”
Continued, and for what it’s worth, the Adler Mannheim have been planning on a Seider-less defense for a couple of months now, too.
Thanks kid. But we’ve got Lashoff, McIlrath, Saarijarvi, and Hicketts wasting spots in Grand Rapids. No room for you. Haha. I do think that if he feels strongly about playing in Grand Rapids then we’ll trade one of these guys with no future. Swap Hicketts for some AHL forward. Or loan Saarijarvi to Europe. What a logjam. Thanks Holland!