Red Wings Norris Trophy Winners Lidstrom, Coffey Assess Moritz Seider

Detroit Red Wings rookie defenseman Moritz Seider is expected to soon accomplish something that neither Nicklas Lidstrom or Paul Coffey list on their Hall of Fame resumes. Seider is the favorite to win the Calder Trophy.

If he continues along the path he carved so impeccably this season, Seider will undoubtedly add another significant achievement. He’ll one day join Lidstrom and Coffey among the fraternity of NHL defensemen who have won the Norris Trophy.

ICYMI: Moritz Seider named Calder Memorial Trophy finalist; #RedWings defenseman looks to become Detroit's first Rookie of the Year since 1964-65.

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— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) May 11, 2022

In NHL history, only three defenders have earned the Norris as the league’s best rearguard while patrolling the blueline for the Red Wings. Red Kelly, who died in 2019, was Detroit’s first Norris winner. He won it when the Trophy was introduced during the 1953-54 season. Coffey captured the Norris in 1994-95. It was the third of his career and his first and only win as a Red Wing.

Lidstrom garnered his first Norris in 2000-01. He’d win six more times over the next nine seasons. Only Bobby Orr, with eight, has won the Norris Trophy more often than Lidstrom.

In a Detroit Hockey Now exclusive, we sought out both of these NHL defensive legends and the only living Red Wings rearguards to win the Norris while playing for the team to gauge their impressions of Seider.

Lidstrom: Seider Confident And Poised

Long before he accepted a position in January within the Detroit front office as the club’s vice president of hockey operations, Lidstrom saw plenty of Seider. He watched intently last season while Seider toiled for Rogle in the Swedish Hockey League.

“I saw Moritz play in Sweden last year and I saw a very mature player for his age,” Lidstrom said. “He played in all situations and got lots of ice time. He played very physical and with an edge.

“So it was interesting to see how he was going to handle his first year in the NHL with more games and a tougher schedule. But he kept playing the same way as a rookie, not shying away from physical play.”

Moritz Seider is vying to become the sixth player in @DetroitRedWings history to win the Calder Trophy and first since Roger Crozier in 1964-65. #NHLAwards pic.twitter.com/wf9mi8TaMr

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 11, 2022

Seider’s 50 points this season were the most by a Detroit rookie defenseman since Lidstrom collected a club-record 60 points in 1991-92. As well, Seider’s 43 assists were the most by a first-year Detroit defender since Lidstrom set a club mark, dishing out 49 helpers in 1991-92.

“He’s poised with the puck and makes smart plays with it,” Lidstrom said. “He’s confident to hang on to it and his awareness on the ice is very good.”

Coffey: Seider Can Do It All

Seider concluded the NHL regular season leading all first-year players with 43 asists and in time on ice (23:02). Among defenseman, he ranked second in goals (seven), first in assists, first in points (50), tied for first in power-play goals (two), first in power-play points (21), first in game-winning goals (four), first in time on ice and first in shots (187).

“I’m really impressed with him,” Coffey said. “He can do it all.

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“He can run a power play, he can kill penalties, he can skate with the puck, he makes plays, he’s strong in his own zone and he’s a big, imposing physical presence.

“It’s that last part that’s really something, because usually you get one or the other – the smooth skater and puckhandler, or the physical play. You don’t don’t often get both of them together in one player.”