DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills looks back at Moritz Seider’s sophomore NHL campaign this morning:
After winning the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie in 2021-22, Seider led all defensemen 22 years old or younger in games played (82), assists (37), points (42), hits (207) and blocks (190) last season. Additionally, Seider’s 207 hits tied the Red Wings franchise record originally set by Justin Abdelkader in 2015-16, while his 190 blocks were the most by any Detroit skater in a single campaign.
“Overall I think I’m in a really good place,” Seider said in his end-of-season media session. “I found my stride during the season. I got shots better on net, so I was happy with that. I’m a better defender now than I was (in 2021-22). I’m doing a good job of trying to shut down the best lines on a daily basis. That’s all I’m trying to do.”
But Seider’s statistics do not tell the whole story, according to fellow defenseman Jake Walman. He said that Seider can impact a game even without the puck.
“He’s a beast out there,” Walman said about Seider in April. “He can do it all. He can do everything by himself.”
Seider said he felt an increased comfort level with the Red Wings in 2022-23, helping the former sixth overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft gain more confidence in his own game.
“I think I’m not caught out of position that often anymore,” Seider said. “I matured on the PK to just block more shots. Another full 82-game season helped me to mature as well.”
Continued; the Wings hope that Seider will grow into a Norris Trophy-caliber defenseman, and I don’t think that’s unrealistic over the course of the next couple of seasons.
