Moritz Seider continues to shine, but focus is on Red Wings drought

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.