NHL.com/de posted a very long interview with Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider as part of the NHL’s international sites‘ season previews today. Here is a rough translation of the interview from German:

Seider: “I want to be the best defender”

In the European Player Media Tour interview with NHL.com/de, the defender of the Detroit Red Wings talks about summer training, noise and doubters

As part of the European Player Media Tour 2026, NHL.com/de conducted numerous interviews with German-language NHL professionals. In this issue: Moritz Seider of the Detroit Red Wings

Hi Moritz! What was the highlight of your summer?

Just the two vacations we’ve taken. We were both with friends and had a few more days for both, so [it was] only my girlfriend and I. It was fun, we had a great time. We were together with Tim Stutzle and another player in Mallorca. Most recently we were on active vacation in Austria with a lot of hiking and cycling, which was really nice.

You’ve trained a lot with Tim Stutzle. You are both top players in the NHL and you meet on the ice as opponents. What was the joint training like?

It was great. I think without Tim, I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in right now, simply because we’re two people who can’t finish second. But there must always be a second-place guy. This helps us to get to a higher level, in every aspect, on and off the ice. So we have a healthy rivalry, and have found a way to accept second place. But that motivates us to work even harder in other areas to beat the other one there. This is our thing.

Tim is a forward, you’re a defender – doesn’t he rub it under your nose when he scores more goals?

(Laughs) No. We quit that a long time ago. This is also because such a thing often comes back at you quite quickly. There are so many things we can compete in, so it’s easier to shut up and accept victory.

Many describe your training program as brutal in the summer. How would you describe it?

You have to push yourself to reach a new standard. If you don’t do that, you’ll fall behind. I’m proud to improve every season. You have to work hard for that in the summer. This can be hard sometimes, and you have to torture yourself for it, but I assume that my opponents are doing the same. So I always have to shift a gear higher myself.

Which areas do you focus the most on?

You have to step up in every area. It’s difficult to work on areas that occur during the game: Yes, you can improve your shot in terms of precision and hardness. Yes, you can skate a little more smoothly. But these are all things that you have to translate into the game and turn into game situations. You can hardly simulate them over the summer.

In the Norris Trophy race, you finished fifth. How do you see your game right now?

That starting point is good, but of course I want to achieve more. In fifth place, one should not be satisfied, otherwise something is going wrong. The goal is to be the best. Right now, I’m still far away, which is okay, but hopefully I can get a little closer through my hard work.

Do you feel like you can become the best defender in the NHL?

If you don’t believe it, it will never happen. If you want to play against the best players in the world, you have to become one of the best players yourself. That should definitely be your attitude. Sometimes it’s hard to believe in yourself, then you think again that you can make it – why not? This approach takes a little time, but I hope, of course, that one day I will be one of these players.

How did you deal with the things around the Detroit Red Wings over the summer that you can’t control yourself?

Obviously, our team was in the headlines, which can be good and bad. In any case, it has distracted attention from our work. The challenge is to accept that, and focus on the things you can control and that is: summer training, nutrition, sleep, and my relationships with my teammates. I can’t control everything else. The good thing as a player is that you don’t have to worry about certain things. It’s that simple.

How close are you in touch with Dylan Larkin and how helpful would a decision be before the training camp starts?

Most recently, I congratulated him on his birthday. Out of respect for him alone, there is nothing to say about him about the media. What I can say is that he has his reasons. At the same time, we are a better team when he is in our lineup. Should a new [front office] leader come, it will be exciting to find other solutions. These decisions are made by the new GM.

How do you see your role from the perspective of the Detroit Red Wings in terms of leadership?

I feel like we’re going to have guys in the new season who will be put in uncomfortable situations because they’re still young, and already have to take on roles they might not have taken on yet. I see my job in making sure that every individual feels comfortable, and accepts that it could become a little uncomfortable. I want to make them feel good, and boost their confidence to go out there and get the job done. I’ve learned over the years that it doesn’t matter what other people think about you, and that certain things just need to be addressed [in the room].

You have completed 410 NHL games in a row? How did you manage to never miss a game?

I don’t know, either. I’m just proud to be available. Of course, you also need a bit of luck with bigger injuries. But such a streak also goes hand in hand with your work in the summer break, which we have already talked about. You may also put yourself in situations where your tolerance level is a bit higher than others, or you can pocket more than others. Sometimes it’s just about how much you really want something. I think I can proudly say loudly that I really want it! There aren’t many things that could stop me from going out there.

With Brent Burns, another defender is only 58 games away from trumping Phil Kessel’s Iron-Man series for most games in a row ever.

I know how much work I’ve had to put in to get to a little over 400 games in a row. I can’t imagine what he’s been through. It’s impressive to see him still playing at a high level. It’s fun to watch him. I have the highest respect for every player who doesn’t miss a game and is always available.

Tim Stutzle arrives in Dusseldorf with the Ottawa Senators in December. Next year, JJ Peterka will play against the Boston Bruins in Munich, and Leon Draisaitl with the Edmonton Oilers in Cologne. How much do you hope for a game with the Detroit Red Wings on German soil?

When we learned that those two (JJ and Leon) are coming back to Germany, I was made fun of, because they have been there so much in the last few years. It shows how much the league stands behind them. Of course, you want your own team to come home so that you can show some of our traditions. There are exciting times ahead of us. Hopefully we can make the game bigger in Germany. It’s a step in the right direction, and I’m happy for our guys. Of course, I also want to play a few games in Germany myself.

What kind of reception will Tim receive in Dusseldorf in December?

It is close to his hometown (Viersen). So it will be something very special for him. I hope he can fully enjoy it, because he is a player who always puts a lot of pressure on himself, especially during such big events. Many fans will be cheering for him. I hope that’s also seen by the spectators in North America. I think he’s still an underrated player who plays well offensively and defensively, and is a real fighter.

How is it for a German player to see that the NHL brings so many regular season games to Germany?

It’s incredible! It shows the league sees something in this country. Not only because of the population, but also because of the hype that there is just about hockey. The possibility that family, friends and fans can watch in prime time will have a big impact. The fact that there will now be games in Germany every year will help children to fall in love with this sport. That’s hugely important.

When would you call the new season a success?

Obviously, there are a lot of people who doubt our team, and don’t see us very far up in the standings. That should drive us, and motivate us to show it to everyone. The current circumstances may bring our team even closer together, and could ignite a fire. We have to accept this challenge. Maybe not everyone has us on their radar, but that can also be something positive, because we can surprise everyone.

Do these doubters motivate you personally?

Certainly. Not only because I wear our jersey with so much pride, and play for this franchise, but also because I know how much work we put in during the summer break to get better. There is no better feeling than when others doubt you. This is the story of my entire career. If this is transferred to our team, it could hardly motivate us better.

When you say it’s the story of your career, what exactly do you allude to?

I was confronted with draft videos, and there was so much noise about Steve (former general manager Steve Yzerman) picking me. For me, that was pure motivation to show what kind of character I am, and what kind of player I can become. For me personally, it’s satisfying that certain people now think differently about it. It’s the profession of journalists to generate headlines – now they have to rewrite one or the other. That’s a satisfying feeling.

How realistic is a qualification for the Stanley Cup Playoffs next season?

We have to have a good start and turn off the noise around our team. The latter we can hardly control, but victories can help with that. That should be our ultimate goal. We have to come together as a team, be fully focused, and have a good start. If we can do that, we can keep looking ahead.

Is an 84-game season a new challenge for you?

I see more of a chance for a shorter training camp with fewer preseason games. This will start the action much faster. Playing is what we love the most. Maybe we’ll have a few more back-to-back games, we’ll practice for that less, too. That’s a good mix. Probably everyone would accept having two more games and fewer practice sessions for it. I’m fully involved with this.