Prospect guru Corey Pronman is working his way through the developmental systems of the NHL’s 31 teams at present.
This morning, Pronman ranks the Red Wings as having the 18th-best prospect pipeline in the NHL, based upon his ranking of the Wings’ top 11 (and, ultimately, 17 total) prospects.
Pronman’s assessment of Moritz Seider leads off his excellent article:
1. Moritz Seider, D, Grand Rapids-AHL
April 6, 2001 | 6-foot-4 | 207 pounds
Tier: High-end NHL player
Skating: 55
Puck Skills: 55
Physical Game: 70
Hockey Sense: 55Seider had a great first season in North America, playing big minutes for Grand Rapids as a teenager and was one of the top defensemen at the world juniors. Seider isn’t a flashy player but he’s very well-rounded. He’s a 6-foot-4 defenseman who is highly mobile for his size, can move the puck well and is a top-end defender. His wingspan, great mobility and elite physicality allow him to make so many stops and project as a tough minutes defenseman in the NHL. Seider can move the puck, although I don’t ever see him as a big offensive player, as there will be stretches he can be quite bland with the puck. There are stretches he makes a very nice outlet pass with pace as well.
Continued (Paywall). I’ve got no problem with Pronman’s overall ranking of the Red Wings as having dropped from 13th to 18th overall in prospect rankings this season, but it shouldn’t surprise you that I’m a little more bullish on the Wings’ youngsters.
Here’s hoping that the Red Wings snag more NHL-caliber players during this fall’s NHL Draft. Perhaps that may move Pronman’s needle in a more positive direction.
