- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,135,091
- Reaction score
- 59
Detroit — The news several weeks back that Moritz Seider was not one of the three finalists for the Norris Trophy wasn't terribly shocking.
Grosse Pointe's Zach Werenski (Columbus), Rasmus Dahlin (Buffalo) and Cale Makar (Colorado) are deserving, but there were about six to eight defensemen this season who deserved votes and wouldn't be out of place as finalists.
Seider, without a doubt, was one of those defensemen.
Seider put together career-highs in goals (10), assists (50), points (60), plus-minus (plus-15) and average ice time (25 minutes 40 seconds), while not missing a game for the fifth consecutive season. Seider now has played in every one of his 410 NHL games.
Still only 25, Seider seems to be inching toward a rarefied level of stardom. Coaches, players and analysts around the NHL recognized Seider's elite play this season and felt he was Norris-worthy.
"He's a different player than Zach and (Quinn) Hughes and Makar, but he's just as important to our team," said captain Dylan Larkin, comparing Seider to some of the NHL's best defensemen. "I can't say enough good things about him and how tough he is, how hard he is. Those guys don't grow on trees, and to get a guy like that who eats minutes and sacrifices his body, he can make plays and he has confidence to do it."
But for all the individual accomplishments and praise, the team success part was again missing. The Red Wings missed the playoffs for a 10th consecutive season, and Seider was answering familiar questions as the team went their seperate ways for the summer.
"It's nice when things are showing up on the scoresheet, but I've said it every year: It's not about that," Seider said. "Everyone would shave down a couple of points and put them on top of the team effort and hopefully get us in (the playoffs)."
Seider credited a serene, quiet approach to the game that has helped him advance each season of his career. He lets plays come to him, when maybe in earlier in his career Seider would look impulsively to make something happen. Simply, also, experience has been a huge factor in Seider's development.
"I just try to play a calm game, don't overthink too much, and remind myself that's a big privilege and a lot of joy to play in this league, play in front of these fans, and wear that jersey," Seider said. "Once you realize that, you can just play a little more relaxed. Not loose, I wouldn't way loose, but just more relaxed and those are important things, and things start clicking."
The consecutive game streak is another part of Seider's impressive entrance and evolving in the league. There have been several minor scares along the way, instances where it looked like Seider's streak possibly could be in jeopardy. But each time, Seider has brushed off the sickness or injury and skated on, a testament to his durability.
"You want to be available every single night," said Seider, who is currently captaining Germany in the world championships in Zurich. "We take a lot of pride wearing that jersey and that means a lot for me, to show up every single night and play every single game. I was able to do again this season and hopefully for many more years.
"Sometimes you have to get lucky too, and I've been on the lucky side of things. I haven't been injured seriously, so those are important things that need to happen over a long stretch."
The ability to write Seider's name into the lineup consistently, and play Seider sometimes half the game, is a luxury coach Todd McLellan enjoys.
"I really think he’s a diesel engine," McLellan said. "He just never turns off. He just keeps going, and his stamina is remarkable.
"He gets a lot of bumps and bruises. He blocks a lot of shots. Everybody's pain threshold is a little bit different, but his seems to be quite high so he's able to fight through it. A lot of that is mental, too. He could be a stubborn guy sometimes, and that stubbornness allows him to get through some of the tough times."
But for all the individual honors, Seider was disappointed in how the season ended and the Wings' inability to secure a playoff spot.
The Wings were in prime position, it appeared, for as late into the season as January. They sat near the top of the Eastern Conference standings, were as much as 12 points clear of a playoff position after midseason, and yet post-Olympics, the Wings wobbled and fell out of the playoff chase with injuries, lack of offense and depth, all factors.
Seider feels improvement from within is important heading into next season.
"Once again we were close and kind of sitting here talking about the same stuff every year," Seider said. “In the end, the answer is pretty simple: We just got to be better as a team and as individuals. We got to put in the work in the summer and hopefully everyone is thinking the same thing that I'm saying right now, and then we can become a better hockey team."
The March slides have been a factor the last several years in keeping the Wings out of the playoffs. Seider feels everyone in the lineup is responsible.
"Collectively we just have to play better," Seider said. "There's (nobody to) blame but ourselves, including myself, and we just have to be better. We need to dig deep in the summer and find solutions.
"Everyone has seen it. When we're rolling, we're a real good team. (But) we couldn't get it done and kind of just wasted the opportunity."
[email protected]
@tkulfan
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Moritz Seider continues to shine, but focus is on Red Wings drought
Continue reading...
Grosse Pointe's Zach Werenski (Columbus), Rasmus Dahlin (Buffalo) and Cale Makar (Colorado) are deserving, but there were about six to eight defensemen this season who deserved votes and wouldn't be out of place as finalists.
Seider, without a doubt, was one of those defensemen.
You must be registered for see images
Seider put together career-highs in goals (10), assists (50), points (60), plus-minus (plus-15) and average ice time (25 minutes 40 seconds), while not missing a game for the fifth consecutive season. Seider now has played in every one of his 410 NHL games.
Still only 25, Seider seems to be inching toward a rarefied level of stardom. Coaches, players and analysts around the NHL recognized Seider's elite play this season and felt he was Norris-worthy.
"He's a different player than Zach and (Quinn) Hughes and Makar, but he's just as important to our team," said captain Dylan Larkin, comparing Seider to some of the NHL's best defensemen. "I can't say enough good things about him and how tough he is, how hard he is. Those guys don't grow on trees, and to get a guy like that who eats minutes and sacrifices his body, he can make plays and he has confidence to do it."
But for all the individual accomplishments and praise, the team success part was again missing. The Red Wings missed the playoffs for a 10th consecutive season, and Seider was answering familiar questions as the team went their seperate ways for the summer.
"It's nice when things are showing up on the scoresheet, but I've said it every year: It's not about that," Seider said. "Everyone would shave down a couple of points and put them on top of the team effort and hopefully get us in (the playoffs)."
Seider credited a serene, quiet approach to the game that has helped him advance each season of his career. He lets plays come to him, when maybe in earlier in his career Seider would look impulsively to make something happen. Simply, also, experience has been a huge factor in Seider's development.
"I just try to play a calm game, don't overthink too much, and remind myself that's a big privilege and a lot of joy to play in this league, play in front of these fans, and wear that jersey," Seider said. "Once you realize that, you can just play a little more relaxed. Not loose, I wouldn't way loose, but just more relaxed and those are important things, and things start clicking."
The consecutive game streak is another part of Seider's impressive entrance and evolving in the league. There have been several minor scares along the way, instances where it looked like Seider's streak possibly could be in jeopardy. But each time, Seider has brushed off the sickness or injury and skated on, a testament to his durability.
"You want to be available every single night," said Seider, who is currently captaining Germany in the world championships in Zurich. "We take a lot of pride wearing that jersey and that means a lot for me, to show up every single night and play every single game. I was able to do again this season and hopefully for many more years.
"Sometimes you have to get lucky too, and I've been on the lucky side of things. I haven't been injured seriously, so those are important things that need to happen over a long stretch."
The ability to write Seider's name into the lineup consistently, and play Seider sometimes half the game, is a luxury coach Todd McLellan enjoys.
"I really think he’s a diesel engine," McLellan said. "He just never turns off. He just keeps going, and his stamina is remarkable.
"He gets a lot of bumps and bruises. He blocks a lot of shots. Everybody's pain threshold is a little bit different, but his seems to be quite high so he's able to fight through it. A lot of that is mental, too. He could be a stubborn guy sometimes, and that stubbornness allows him to get through some of the tough times."
But for all the individual honors, Seider was disappointed in how the season ended and the Wings' inability to secure a playoff spot.
The Wings were in prime position, it appeared, for as late into the season as January. They sat near the top of the Eastern Conference standings, were as much as 12 points clear of a playoff position after midseason, and yet post-Olympics, the Wings wobbled and fell out of the playoff chase with injuries, lack of offense and depth, all factors.
Seider feels improvement from within is important heading into next season.
"Once again we were close and kind of sitting here talking about the same stuff every year," Seider said. “In the end, the answer is pretty simple: We just got to be better as a team and as individuals. We got to put in the work in the summer and hopefully everyone is thinking the same thing that I'm saying right now, and then we can become a better hockey team."
The March slides have been a factor the last several years in keeping the Wings out of the playoffs. Seider feels everyone in the lineup is responsible.
"Collectively we just have to play better," Seider said. "There's (nobody to) blame but ourselves, including myself, and we just have to be better. We need to dig deep in the summer and find solutions.
"Everyone has seen it. When we're rolling, we're a real good team. (But) we couldn't get it done and kind of just wasted the opportunity."
[email protected]
@tkulfan
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Moritz Seider continues to shine, but focus is on Red Wings drought
Continue reading...
