Moritz Seider is accustomed to handling difficult assignments for the Detroit Red Wings. This offseason has given him a few problems he cannot solve from the blue line.
Dylan Larkin has requested a trade. Steve Yzerman stepped down as general manager. Patrick Kane returned to the Chicago Blackhawks. Detroit is still working through questions that will shape what the roster and front office look like when the 2026-27 season begins.
Seider discussed those changes during the NHL’s European Player Media Tour in Germany, and as MLive detailed in its report, Detroit’s top defenseman did not pretend he had expected everything that happened.
Seider Was Stumped by Steve Yzerman’s Exit
Seider has a unique connection to Yzerman.
When Yzerman took control of Detroit’s hockey operations in 2019, Seider became his first draft selection. Taking the German defenseman No. 6 overall surprised plenty of people around the NHL at the time.
It did not take long for that decision to look considerably better.
Seven years later, Seider has developed into one of Detroit’s foundational players, making Yzerman’s departure from the general manager position particularly notable from his perspective.
Seider offered a concise response when asked about the move.
“I’m stumped on that one. I’m glad our owner (Chris Ilitch) can handle it,” Seider told Eishockey News.
There is not much ambiguity there. Seider was surprised, but he also understands that the decision and whatever comes next belong to ownership.
His comments about Larkin were more revealing.
Moritz Seider Makes His View on Dylan Larkin Clear
Larkin’s trade request has created a much different issue because it directly affects the team Seider will play for.
The captain remains Detroit’s top center, and his trade request remains unresolved with training camp approaching. Seider did not criticize Larkin for making the request, but he was direct about what losing him would mean.
“That wasn’t exactly something you saw coming. … Everyone certainly has their reasons for making certain decisions. Whether I or we approve of it is not for us to answer. But it’s clear that we’re a better team when Dylan Larkin is on the roster and playing, than when he isn’t,” Seider told Eishockey News.
That is about as far as a player can reasonably go without stepping into management’s territory.
Seider did not tell Larkin what he should do. He did not offer an opinion on whether Detroit should honor the trade request. He simply stated the hockey reality: the Red Wings are stronger with Larkin in their lineup.
There is plenty of evidence for why Detroit’s remaining core would want every possible advantage. The Red Wings missed the playoffs by seven points last season after going 3-8-2 over their final 13 games, a collapse that extended the franchise’s postseason drought to 10 consecutive seasons, according to NHL.com.
The roster around Seider may change. His expectations for himself have not.
Seider Is Aiming Higher After Career Year
Seider is coming off his best NHL season.
The 25-year-old established career highs with 10 goals, 50 assists and 60 points while posting a plus-15 rating. He averaged 25:40 of ice time, third-most in the NHL, and finished fifth in Norris Trophy voting.
Rather than treating those numbers as evidence he has arrived, Seider is looking at them as another starting point.
“You should always treat it like the sky is the limit; if you don’t aim for the stars, it’s tough to reach them,” Seider told NHL.com. “If you don’t want to compare yourself to the best, you’re probably never going to be in a conversation with them.”
Seider then made clear where he believes he still stands among the NHL’s elite defensemen.
“It’s been really good what I achieved so far, but there’s plenty of room to work on. There’s plenty of opportunity to get better, and that’s something I have to shift my focus to because you want to get better, you want to be in conversation with the best defensemen in the league. I’m not there yet, but obviously that’s where I see my opportunity to shine is to just get better and better every single year,” Seider continued.
That mindset gives Detroit one measure of stability during an offseason short on it.
Seider cannot determine who runs the Red Wings next. He cannot decide whether Larkin stays, and he cannot replace the production Detroit lost when Kane departed.
What he can do is continue becoming the player Yzerman believed he could be when he surprised the hockey world in 2019.
For a franchise trying to sort out almost everything else, having Seider firmly planted on the blue line is a pretty good place to start.
