Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat spoke to assorted media over the course of last week’s NHL/NHLPA Player Media Tour in Las Vegas.
On Tuesday, NHL.com/de’s Christian Rupp posted a different kind of interview with DeBrincat. First, it’s in German, and second, it’s an interview in which DeBrincat discusses his German-born teammate, Moritz Seider, and DeBrincat makes some cute comments therein.
What follows is translated from German:
DeBrincat: “Seider is like a teddy bear”
The Detroit Red Wings’ German defenseman chases the Norris Trophy as an Ironman and aims for the playoffs
Moritz Seider is already one of the best defenders in the NHL. Clearly, the 25-year-old German is among the top players on the Detroit Red Wings.
In the race for the Norris Trophy, which is awarded to the most complete defensive player during the regular season, the 1.88-meter-tall right-handed defenseman finished 5th behind Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets, 1.), Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche, 2.), Rasmus Dahlin (Buffalo Sabres, 3.) and Evan Bouchard (Edmonton Oilers, 4.) in 2026.
An Ironman chases the Norris Trophy
“He’s very close to that goal, definitely one of the best defensive defenders, and he brings that offensive flair. He is not, without reason, one of the best players on our team,” says forward Alex DeBrincat, Seider’s teammate with the Red Wings.
With 10 goals, 50 assists and 60 points, a plus-minus balance of +15 and an average of 25:40 minutes of ice time per game, Seider set personal records last season. The international player also played all 82 games, extending his Ironman streak to 410 consecutive games.
“The way he plays–with all the blocked shots, checks and that he’s all over the ice–that has a lot to do with robustness,” DeBrincat said. “He certainly played on despite one or another injury. He’s one of those guys who just fights his way through everything. He always wants to help the team and do everything right.”
Like a teddy bear
Seider lays the foundation for this endurance, year after year, with a hard-hitting summer training program. But he also sets a good example in Detroit during the season.
“He works hard every single day, whether in practice, in the game or in the weight room. He always gives 100 percent,” DeBrincat said. “We can look up to him and follow him. He always gives everything.”
While Seider is a dreaded opponent on the ice, who deals with fierce (reverse) hits, the first-round pick from the 2019 NHL Draft presents himself completely different privately.
“Beside eating ice cream, he’s like a teddy bear,” DeBrincat reveals. “He’s one of the nicest guys I know. He’s big, but from his personality he’s like a teddy bear.”
Ten years without playoffs
What Seider has been denied thus far is a game in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Red Wings have been waiting for a playoff game since 2016. So the thirsty stretch has been going on for over a decade now. After a slump in the last third of the season, Detroit (41-31-10) finished the 2025-26 season in sixth place in the Atlantic Division. Finishing seven points behind in the last wild card place in the Eastern Conference.
“I think we’re closer than many believe,” DeBrincat says defiantly. “We’re almost there, but we may have to stem a few sets of defeats. We have to stay confident throughout the season. Last year we made a step forward in terms of the mental aspect. We were high in the standings for long distances.”
