Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson are gaining national attention heading into the 2025-26 season. The pair of big blueliners will both have big roles in Detroit's upcoming centennial season, and Red Wings fans are hoping their strong play can help lead the franchise to its first postseason appearance since 2016.
Seider and Edvinsson are both featured on NHL.com's list of the top 10 defensemen under the age of 25 entering the upcoming season. Seider is ranked third behind Ottawa's Jake Sanderson and Minnesota's Brock Faber. Edvinsson sits at No. 8, just behind New Jersey's Luke Hughes and Buffalo's Owen Power.
Lucas Raymond was noticeably left off the list of the top 10 forwards under 25, but Red Wings fans are happy to see Seider and Edvinsson on this list.
The young beasts of the blue line 😤 #NHLYoungStarsWeek
— NHL (@NHL) July 16, 2025
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Seider's durability is a major key to his early-career success
Seider was Steve Yzerman's first draft selection after taking over in Hockeytown, as he was taken sixth overall in the 2019 NHL Draft. He made an immediate impact in Detroit, totaling 50 points on seven goals and 43 assists over a full 82 games en route to winning the Calder Trophy in 2021-22. While he hasn't reached the 50-point mark since his rookie campaign, Seider has developed into a durable, physical, puck-moving defenseman who can make plays in every situation.
His impressive durability has been a major key to his early-career success, as he's played in all 82 games in each of his four NHL seasons. He's totaled 180 points (29 goals, 151 assists) in his career, and is coming off a season in which he averaged over 25 minutes of ice time per game. He's blocked 745 shots in his career, blocking 200-plus in each of the last three seasons.
While Red Wings fans were hopeful in adding another big name defenseman to the mix, Seider is more than capable of handing the responsibilities of a No. 1 defenseman. He has an impact in all situations, and nothing comes easy for Detroit's opponents when he is on the ice.
His defensive game is rock solid, but an uptick in offensive production could help the Red Wings take a big leap in 2025-26. It would be surprising to see him flirt with a point-per-game pace, but if Seider can reach or exceed the 50-point mark this upcoming season for the first time since 2021-22, Red Wings fans will be thrilled.
Edvinsson could be in line for a bigger role in 2025-26
Edvinsson has seen action across three NHL seasons, but played just nine games in 2022-23 and 16 games in 2023-24. He just completed his first full season in 2024-25, appearing in 78 games and collecting 31 points on seven goals and 24 assists.
Edvinsson averaged over 21 minutes of ice time in his first full NHL campaign, and posted a team-best rating of plus-12. For reference, Andrew Copp had the second-best rating on the team at plus-4. No other defenseman who played at least 40 games had a rating above minus-2 (Jeff Petry).
Looking ahead, Edvinsson could be in line for a big 2025-26 season. Yzerman brought in Jacob Bernard-Docker on a one-year, $875,000 contact, and while Red Wings fans shouldn't underestimate that move, he shouldn't challenge Edvinsson for ice time. Barring any other moves, Detroit is rolling with the same defensive guys as last season, which means Edvinsson will be leaned on early and often.
He blocked 148 shots in 78 games last season, and if he can continue to play a well-rounded game, the Seider-Edvinsson combo could be something special in the making.
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