Detroit Red Wings blueliner Moritz Seider is a good defenseman. That statement is about as evident as saying water is wet. But what doesn’t seem quite as evident is just HOW good Seider is.
Since he was drafted sixth overall in 2019, the expectation was that he would eventually morph into the blueline cornerstone the Red Wings lacked since Nicklas Lidstrom’s departure.
Sure enough, the 24-year-old is getting there. This season, his play has earned him more of the recognition he deserves. According to a Dec. 18 piece in The Athletic, Seider figures to be pushing his way to the top of the Norris Trophy conversation.
The piece offered the following insight: “In December, Seider has eight points in eight games, an unfathomable 77 percent xG rate and has put the Red Wings up 12-4 at five-on-five — all with his usual buffet of matchup assignments. His average Game Score for the month is 3.18, leading all players.”
The offensive numbers speak for themselves. Generally, defensemen with flashy offensive totals tend to get more consideration for the Norris. However, it’s unfair that defense doesn’t get as much attention as it should.
And that’s where Seider excels. He’s a two-way defenseman. He gets saddled with the tough matchups and doesn’t back down. If you don’t hear much about Seider’s defensive game, it’s because there’s really not much to worry about there.
The piece goes on to add the following thoughts: “As a result, Seider woke up Wednesday morning with a plus-12.8 Net Rating on the season — just 0.1 goals back of Cale Makar. It’s officially a race, and while a 16-point difference is tough for some to overcome, Seider’s weaker supporting cast and incredible defensive ability make up a lot of that gap.”
The comments about the supporting cast are clear. Seider doesn’t have a strong supporting cast around him. Blueliners like Ben Chiarot, Simon Edvinsson, and Axel Sandin-Pellikka, while good, don’t compare to Cale Makar’s teammates.
Makar has the luxury of playing with an elite defensive defenseman in Devon Toews. The Colorado Avalanche can afford to split Makar and Toews at times. Josh Manson, Samuel Girard, and the 40-year-old Brent Burns all provide offense, toughness, and defensively reliable play.
The Red Wings could get there someday, but not this season. That comment is not to denigrate Detroit’s defense in any way. It actually elevates Seider’s play even further. Seider is getting into the elite echelon of NHL rearguards.
Betting on Makar taking the Norris this season is about as safe a bet as you can get. But Seider is closing that gap fast. So, it could only be a matter of time before the next Norris Trophy winner not named Cale Makar or Quinn Hughes comes from Detroit.