Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider spoke with NHL.com/de’s Oliver Jensen regarding being named an alternate captain by Red Wings coach Todd McLellan yesterday. Here’s a rough translation of the German-language article:

“A Great Honor” – Seider talks about his new role

The German defender has risen in the team hierarchy

Moritz Seider and the Detroit Red Wings have a big goal: they want to finally reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The franchise hasn’t been able to do this for nine seasons. But [Moritz] Seider does not want to look too far into the future.

“The focus is just on a good first shift. I think that’s all that matters. There was so much preparation for the first game. Everyone can talk all year round, but I think if we master our first shift and build our game on it, we’ve already won a little victory,” said the German defenseman.

When coach Todd McLellan was asked what must work well in the upcoming season, he had a simple response. “The simple answer is that we win more than we lose. But it’s never that simple. We talked about it. About our identity. We have to play with pace. We need a hunting mentality. I’m not sure everyone knows what that means, but our boys know it.”

This refers, among other things, to the man-advantage and penalty-kill game: “Our special teams have to improve again. The power play must maintain the level of last year, or at least try to keep it and have the same impact on the games. The penalty killing needs to get better.”

The goal is to “preserve the good and eliminate the bad.”

New role for Seider

McLellan has already given Seider (24) and Lucas Raymond (23) a lot of leadership despite their young age. The two are now the deputy captains to Captain Dylan Larkin.

“That’s a great honor,” Seider said. “Of course, this also entails a certain responsibility. We have great leaders in the locker room.” Seider emphasized once again that the leadership must be distributed on several shoulders.

“We have a great team behind us. I am just happy that we have so much leadership in the locker room and can bear this shared responsibility,” said the defender.

The Red Wings play their first game of the season on Thursday (7:00 pm ET, CET 1:00 a.m.) against the Montreal Canadiens.

“We’re all looking forward to it,” Seider said. “I think we did everything we needed to be well-prepared. And that’s exactly what we are now. We feel good. The preparation is over and tomorrow it can finally start.”