Despite recent frustrations, the Detroit Red Wings are receiving a lot of praise lately.
Earlier this week, a former NHL executive praised Steve Yzerman for the roster he put together. On Thursday, Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic released an article entitled "Moritz Seider is the NHL’s best defensive defenseman. It’s time for an award to honor that". The article goes into detail on why the NHL needs an award for the best defenseman off the puck -- and why Seider is more than deserving of this honor.
"The 2025-26 season should be viewed as Seider’s coronation as one of the game’s great unicorns from the back end," Luszczyszyn writes. "He’s become a one-of-one talent delivering do-it-all two-way ability like few before him in a mean package: a unique franchise defenseman who should be a Norris finalist this season."
This isn't the first time The Athletic has praised Seider. Earlier this season, Luszczyszyn wrote a piece on how Seider could very well challenge Cale Makar for Norris consideration. To see national media pick up on Seider's dominance - a thing Red Wings fans know abundantly well - is encouraging, to say the least.
But is it enough to warrant an award this season?
Why the NHL needs a defensive defenseman award
In the past, the Norris Trophy was awarded to a defenseman who best exemplified the duties and responsibilities of his role. Before the emergence of the puck-moving defenseman, this often meant a responsible, stay-at-home type who could stabilize the back end. Nowadays, it's almost always awarded to an offensive puck-moving defenseman who can perform well in his own zone.
Players like Zach Werenski, Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar thrive in this environment. That isn't to say they're bad defensemen by any means -- in fact, quite the opposite. They're among the premier crop of defensemen in the NHL. In his piece, Luszczyszyn argues that there should be a separate award entirely for both offensive-minded and defense-first defensemen. The former has received its flowers over the last few years. The latter has gone unsung.
Players like Jaccob Slavin, Esa Lindell and Seider all undertake massive workloads in the NHL (Seider's average time on ice is fourth in the league). Adding a new award would allow these defensemen to be properly recognized as premier players in the NHL and rightfully give them the praise they deserve.
Seider having career year for Red Wings
This is far and beyond Moritz Seider's best year to date. He's already put up career highs in assists (40) while tying in goals (nine). He's just one point away from tying his career high in points (50) with 11 games left on the slate. Seider's 25:37 leads the team and is his highest to-date as well.
"What makes that more special is how utterly lost the Red Wings have been whenever he’s not on the ice," Luszczyszyn concludes. "They allow 0.37 more xGA and 0.39 more actual goals per 60. That combination is better than any other defender in the league. While this would be a defensive award, the context that Seider hasn’t had to be a specialist to achieve those feats makes what he’s doing even more special."