Red Wings Defenseman Seider Named To German Olympic Team

The Detroit Red Wings officially have their first 2022 Olympian. Germany announced the country’s first three players for next year’s Beijing Games and Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider is on that list. At just 20 years of age, Seider is the youngest player named to any country’s Olympic first three.

Seider joins Toronto Maple Leafs farmhand Kristians Rubins (Latvia) as the only players named who’ve yet to suit up for an NHL regular-season game.

Some familiar faces will join @deb_teams from the @NHL and go for gold at @Beijing2022.

More info 👉 https://t.co/ZUknuqtwVb@EdmontonOilers @DetroitRedWings @SeattleKraken pic.twitter.com/ysNtOcp70c

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) October 8, 2021

Seider, the club’s first pick in the 2019 NHL entry draft, figures to put an end to that scenario when the Red Wings open their 2021-22 regular-season slate at Little Caesars Arena against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

As Moritz Seider prepares to make his NHL bow, he is displaying the potential that will ultimately make him an impact NHL defenseman. As well, there are gentle reminders that he’s also a 20-year-old rookie. Placing mounting expecations on him to be the next Nicklas Lidstrom are ill-advised.

In Thursday’s 4-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, Seider skated a team-high 21:18. He collected a goal and an assist and was plus-two. Seider put five shots on goal and dished out a pair of hits.

“I thought Mo had moments that were really good,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. “I thought when he was really good, he looked like a bit of a difference maker around the ice.”

Red Wings Moritz Seider Gaining NHL Experience

The night before in Columbus, Seider also played well for the most part. However, he was also completely undressed by Blue Jackets forward Patrick Laine on the fourth Columbus goal.

🚨 Patrik Laine stunning goal alert 🚨

(🎥: @BlueJacketsNHL) pic.twitter.com/9Oisfm1qIH

— NHL (@NHL) October 7, 2021

“This is what the preseason’s for,” Blashill said. “This is why he’s playing a lot of games – to gain experience in order to understand what a guy like Patrik Laine’s moves are, so he sees those.

“Again, I’ve said this before – he’s had a ton of success in other leagues but you don’t see the level of player in those leagues like a Laine, like (Auston) Matthews. We’re gonna see those guys a lot, so it’s great for him to gain that experience.”

Seider will be joining Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl and Seattle Kraken goaltender Phillipp Grubauer on the German team in Beijing. Draistaitl won the Hart and Art Ross Trophies in 2019-20. Grubauer was a Vezina Trophy finalist in 2021.

Germany won the silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. The NHL players didn’t participate in that tournament. The Germans were fourth at the 2021 IIHF World Championship. Seider was part of that team. He was named the tournament’s top defenseman and was also selected to the All-Tournament Team.