As Red Wings fan continue to suffer through another season in a rebuild, looking at the progress of Moritz Seider the best way to make a miserable season slightly more tolerable. The Red Wings can certainly use all the help they can get after another tough loss last night.
Seider should provide that.
Going into the year, it was unclear which Red Wings prospects were going to actually be able to play because of the COVID-19 situation. This was true for Seider, but he was loaned to Rogle BK after Mannheim of the DEL was delayed in starting its season. Rogle not only sits at the top of the league, but Seider has been one of the major success stories.
It’s hard to judge Seider based on stats this season, as he was sidelined for a couple of weeks after suffering a shoulder injury. Still, he holds the second best +/- for defensemen in the SHL, has 24 points (5-19) in 34 games, and is seventh in the league averaging .706 points/game.
Simply put, he’s making an impact on the ice.
I don't know why I did this. But here's almost 2 minutes of Moritz Seider holding the offensive blueline. He's good at it. That's all. pic.twitter.com/q4cwOrNYIy
— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) February 23, 2021
Seider plays an extremely physical game, not afraid to give and receive massive hits. Oftentimes, those hits result in his opponent flat out on the ice. He often uses his physicality to consistently win individual puck battles, and his aggressive defensive tendencies makes it nearly impossible for a clean offensive zone entry.
Give Joel Lundqvist a lot of credit for testing Moritz Seider 3 times this game. pic.twitter.com/bEmOEEPHsJ
— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) February 20, 2021
Seider’s elite level defensive skills aren’t the only thing about his game to get excited about. His hockey IQ is extremely high, often anticipating plays to avoid hits, and creating great scoring chances with little turnovers or errors.
Moritz Seider is currently the Red Wing’s best prospect, with Lucas Raymond being right behind him. Seider has made several highlight reel plays this season so it’s not hard to get excited about the sort of talent he’ll bring to Detroit’s roster.
However, Wings fans shouldn’t expect Seider in the NHL this season. His SHL team, Rogle BK, looks to be a lock in the playoffs, and likely will make a deep run. It’s unlikely that their season ends in time to pull Seider into the 2020-21 roster – but next season seems like a lock. The extra hockey should also be another benefit for Seider’s progression.
One thing is for sure: Red Wings fans have every reason to be excited for Seider’s debut in Detroit.