As much as the rookie show in Detroit belongs to Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider, NHL.com’s Mike G. Morreale offers a good reminder that, when it comes to the 2019 draft class, Seider is among a very deep class of rookie and sophomore performers, including Trevor Zegras, Bo Byram, Spencer Knight and Vasily Podkolzin.
Morreale’s “Rookie Watch” for the 2019 draft class also offers coach Jeff Blashill’s take on Seider’s room for improvement:
Moritz Seider, F, Detroit Red Wings: The No. 6 pick leads rookie defensemen with 17 points (three goals, 14 assists) in 25 games, six power-play points (all assists) and average ice time (22:32). The 20-year-old leads rookies from his draft class in hits (35) and blocked shots (43) and is first among rookie defensemen with eight takeaways.
Seider scored his second overtime goal of the season in a 4-3 win against the New York Islanders on Saturday, becoming the fifth rookie defenseman in NHL history to score multiple overtime goals in one season (Shayne Gostisbehere, Philadelphia Flyers, four, 2015-16; Brent Seabrook, Chicago Blackhawks, two, 2005-06; P.K. Subban, Montreal Canadiens, two, 2010-11; Cam Fowler, Anaheim Ducks, two, 2010-11).
“He’s got tons of physical abilities, he’s a big guy, he can skate, he’s athletic, he’s got (a) good skill set from a hockey standpoint,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. “Now our job is to help him continue to (grow) from a really good talent to a great player ultimately. That’s what we’d love him to be here.
“I think without improving, Moritz could be a good player in this league. But that’s not what anybody wants, him or us. So we just want to make sure that we’re continuing to push him, even as he has early success.”
Continued; Raymond and Seider may be dominant, but sometimes we forget that they’re not alone among the elites of the NHL’s youngest would-be stars.
