Berggren’s opportunity to ‘belong’ has arrived

The Hockey News’s Connor Eargood spoke with Jonatan Berggren regarding his opportunity to make the Red Wings’ roster full-time this season:

“This is a year for me to prove that I can belong in this league,” Berggren said Thursday on the opening day of Red Wings training camp. “So my focus on training camp is just come in with a great attitude and show them what player I am and how big a summer I had.”

Berggren played in just 12 NHL games last season after playing 67 in his rookie year the season prior. His call-ups showed flashes of the offensive impact he can make through his vision and deception, but they also exposed his flaws. Berggren was a minus defender in many of his appearances, almost all of which came in a depth role on the fourth line.

Now, the task for Berggren becomes proving he can deliver on defense.

“Two-way game,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said of the expectations for Berggren this season. “You talk about actions, the first action is he had a great summer. He looks leaner. He looks like he’s got a little bit more pop. He’s done his work. Now, it’s just being a little more responsible in that two-way game.”

Continued;

Update: And there’s this from Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen:

It was emotionally challenging for Berggren to stay positive when he couldn’t stick with Detroit.

“It been a little bit tough. I will not lie,” Berggren said on the opening day of training camp in Traverse City.  Going up and down. Basically living in my car, me and my girlfriend. So it was. I think looking back at it, it was a grow a lot and mentally strong and stuff. …But I think it will help me in the long (run).”

Summarizing the media’s takes on Moritz Seider’s re-signing

The Red Wings have re-signed Moritz Seider to a 7-year, $59.85 million contract this afternoon.

The Red Wings’ media corps has weighed in en masse (i.e. a very large amount all at once), so let’s examine what they have to say:

  1. Earlier today, the Hockey News’s Sam Stockton noted that Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin felt that it was “strange” to not have Seider in training camp:

“It is strange,” Larkin acknowledged of Seider’s absence.  “That’s his situation, but I know he wants to be here.  It’s between him, his agent, and Steve.  The guys understand that but also we’re here to get back to work and start building towards October 10th.  Obviously, he’s a huge part of our team and we need him…so it is strange not having him.  We’re all hoping that it can get done pretty soon.”  “I’ve talked to him,” the captain added.  “Obviously, he’s one of my good, close friends, so we’ve talked.”

Coach Derek Lalonde said of the situation, “We love Mo. We’ll be ready to embrace Mo when he does arrive,” referring to Seider’s absence as “business as usual” in the context of RFA negotiations for high-end young players. Lalonde added that it was “not really a distraction” for the players who were on the ice on what he described as a successful day one, but of course, the need to even address the question suggests otherwise.

Elsewhere in his first press availability of the season, Larkin made his enthusiasm for the new year clear.  “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought of our last home game vs. Montreal and watched the video of Lucas [Raymond] scoring,” he said, in reference to his eagerness to get back to playing in front of the Little Caesars Arena crowd.  These Red Wings are excited to prove they can keep building on last year’s near miss, but it’s impossible to ignore that doing so, as Larkin said, requires Seider. 

2. Then the Red Wings re-signed Seider, as the AP’s Larry Lage notes…

Continue reading Summarizing the media’s takes on Moritz Seider’s re-signing

Prospect round-up: Buchelnikov plays 19 minutes in Vityaz loss

Of Red Wings prospect-related note:

In the KHL, Dmitri Buchelnikov finished even with 2 shots in 19:32 played as Vityaz Moscow Region lost 3-2 to CSKA Moscow.

Red Wings Prospects on Twitter noted that Buchelnikov was involved in a scoring play…

Also:

Tweet of note: Keats, Ken and Mick

Red Wings play-by-play announcer Ken Daniels and color commentator Mickey Redmond spoke with Bally Sports Detroit’s John Keating regarding their partnership:

Press release: Red Wings officially sign Moritz Seider to 7-year, $59.85 million contract

Per the Detroit Red Wings:

RED WINGS RE-SIGN MORITZ SEIDER TO SEVEN-YEAR CONTRACT

  … 2021-22 Calder Memorial Trophy Winner Has Recorded 134 Points in 246 Games …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today re-signed defenseman Moritz Seider to a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $8.55 million.

Seider, 23, skated in all 82 games with the Red Wings during the 2023-24 season and ranked among the team’s leading defensemen with nine goals (3rd), 33 assists (2nd), 42 points (2nd), 51 penalty minutes (2nd), three power play goals (1st), 17 power play points (2nd), 135 shots (2nd), 211 hits (1st), 212 blocks (1st) and 22:22 average time on ice (1st). The 6-foot-3, 205-pound blueliner was the only NHL player to record at least 200 hits and 200 blocks in 2023-24, setting franchise records in both categories. He set multiple personal milestones in his third NHL campaign, recording his 100th career point with an assist on Oct. 26 vs. Winnipeg, skating in his 200th career game on Dec. 29 vs. Nashville and logging his 100th career assist on Jan. 27 vs. Vegas. Seider matched his point total from the 2022-23 campaign, when he tallied 42 points (5-37-42) and 40 penalty minutes in 82 games.

Seider made an immediate impact with the Red Wings in 2021-22, leading all NHL rookie defensemen in games played (82), assists (43), points (50), power play points (21), overtime goals (2), game-winning goals (4), shots (187), blocks (161) and average time on ice (23:02). Seider was named the recipient of the 2021-22 Calder Memorial Trophy, becoming the sixth player – and first defenseman – in Red Wings history to be honored as the NHL’s top rookie, joining Roger Crozier (1964-65), Glenn Hall (1955-56), Terry Sawchuk (1950-51), Jim McFadden (1947-48) and Carl Voss (1932-33). Seider also earned a place on the All-Rookie Team alongside Lucas Raymond, becoming the first Red Wings defenseman to be selected to the All-Rookie Team since Nicklas Lidström and Vladimir Konstantinov were both honored in 1991-92. Seider was chosen as the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for October 2021 after picking up eight assists in his first nine career NHL games. Selected by the Red Wings in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Seider has compiled 134 points (21-113-134) and 125 penalty minutes in 246 games, which is the highest point total in his draft class among defensemen.

Prior to making his Red Wings debut, Seider was loaned to Rögle BK of the Swedish Hockey League for the 2020-21 season, earning Defenseman of the Year honors after recording 28 points (7-21-28), a plus-14 rating and 16 penalty minutes in 41 regular-season games, in addition to five points (1-4-5) in 13 postseason contests. Seider played the entire 2019-20 season with the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins, collecting 22 points (2-20-22) and 28 penalty minutes in 49 games. He made his professional debut at age 16 with Adler Mannheim in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), logging six points (2-4-6) and eight penalty minutes in 33 games from 2017-19. Seider was named Rookie of the Year in Germany’s top professional league in 2018-19, helping Adler Mannheim win a DEL championship.

A native of Zell, Germany, Seider represented his country at four straight IIHF World Championships from 2019-23, winning a silver medal at the 2023 IIHF World Championship after recording five points (1-4-5), a plus-six rating and 31 penalty minutes in 10 games. Additionally, Seider was named Best Defenseman at the 2021 IIHF World Championship, logging five assists in 10 games. Seider captained Germany at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship, tallying six assists in seven appearances. He was named Best Defenseman at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship Division 1 A tournament, captaining the team to a gold medal and registering seven points (1-6-7) in five games. Seider also captured two medals in international competition during the 2017-18 season, winning bronze at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship Division 1 A tournament, in addition to earning Best Defenseman honors and a silver medal at the 2018 IIHF World Under-18 Championship Division 1 A tournament.