NHL professional Moritz Seider: The German top performer in Detroit

The first NHL season could not have gone better for Moritz Seider. The defender was named “rookie of the year”. Now he wants to take the next step – and go “on a cool trip” with Detroit.

If you want to speak to Moritz Seider, you need a little patience. The morning training Detroit Red Wings before the away game at the Boston Bruins is over, many actors have already changed and showered, but Seider is still on the ice of the TD Garden. Another slapshot, another pass, another combination. “I like to end the day with a bit of a time alone or with a guy or two”says the defender when he comes into the dressing room, in an interview with the sports show.

Seider is in his second NHL– Season started. His premiere season had already been one for the history books. The 1.93 meter tall curly head, who started playing ice hockey at the age of five at EHC Erfurt, was the first German to receive the “Rookie of the year” won. Since the 1932/33 season, the NHL the “best newcomer of the year”, since 1936/37 the winner receives the Calder Memorial Trophy.

Sought-after man during the season break

They have already received 60 Canadians, a dozen Americans, eight Russians, four Swedes, two Finns, one Slovak and one Brit. Since June 21, 2022, the name Moritz Seider has also been engraved on the silver plaques on the wooden base of the trophy. After Olaf Kölzig (best goalkeeper 1999/00) and Leon Draisaitl (most valuable player, outstanding player, top scorer 2019/20), the 21-year-old was only the third German to win an individual NHL-Award was honored.

What was the result? “First just a little more work in the summer”, says Seider. PR appointments, sponsor appearances, interviews in Berlin, Paris and Switzerland. And, he adds happily, he has too “one or the other message” get from someone “Who you haven’t seen in a while. That was also very, very nice.”

Talent, high achiever, long-term cornerstone

Otherwise nothing has changed. “I’m still trying to be myself, not to pretend”. And of course there is “Family, friends and the boys here in the cabin”says Seider, “which ground you very quickly.” Although that would imply that the man with the shirt number 53 would have taken off. But that’s not what he is.

Seider knows he has talent. That he, despite being just 21 years old, is already a top performer at the traditional club. And that many in Detroit him as the long-term cornerstone of Red Wings see. But of course it is also clear to him that he is still at the beginning of his NHL-Career stands. And right now he doesn’t like his performance. The puck jumps over the bat and a shot lands right in the goalkeeper’s hand. “And then sometimes you conceded a goal faster than you can see”, says Seider. But he doesn’t let that bother him.

Between “elite level” and “easy puck losses”

Derek Lalonde, since this season Red Wings-Trainer, names the development of German “a process”. Seider’s game “sometimes at elite level”but sometimes he also has “light puck losses”. The coach summarizes everything as “growing pain”so a kind of growth complaints together.

The same can be said about the club. the Red Wings have by all american NHL-Teams with eleven championships won most titles. However, the last triumph was 14 years ago. Since 2016 has Detroit no playoffs played more. But the bottom seems to have been passed. The club has brought in promising talents like Seider, as well as experienced professionals during the summer break.

starring role on the “cool trip”

There is euphoria in the city, emphasizes Seider. For the first time since 2011, the Red Wings again scored in the first five games of the season. That the past two games against New Jersey (2:6) and yesterday in Boston (1:5) were clearly lost, well, of course that also happens in an 82-game preliminary round.

But Seider is about the “bigger picture“, which should be considered – and about the “Foresight”. he knows that Detroit not become master. And maybe they will Red Wings miss the playoffs again. But, you want “The next big step towards playoffs make”. The team has what it takes, be “Very strong in depth”. The season can, according to Seider “a really cool trip” will. And one of the main roles is intended for the German national player on this tour.