The images of Moritz Seider, the top defenseman for the Detroit Red Wings, chucking knuckles with Boston Bruins forward Mark Kastelic sent shivers down the spines of most Red Wings fans.

The last thing anyone wants to see is Seider getting seriously injured in a fight.

Kastelic vs. Seider pic.twitter.com/qCUkDLLmuA

— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) November 30, 2025

That being the case, Saturday’s tilt also served to raise a commonly-heard hue and cry in some circles of Hockeytown supporters.

They want the Red Wings to suit up an NHL enforcer.

Even though he found himself going toe-to-toe with one of the NHL’s toughest customers, Seider isn’t down with that school of thought.

“I don’t think we need a fighter in our team,” Seider said. “I think we’re a really good team, and we just got to match their intensity, and I think we did that.

“We just can’t back down from those things.”

Probably Not The Best Decision By Red Wings Seider

Give Seider credit. While he’s not known as a fighter, he also isn’t someone who picks his spots.

While it was only his second bout of the current season, Kastelic is a well-seasoned scrapper. According to data compiled by HockeyFights.com, he fought 10 times last season, seven times in 2023-24, and on nine occasions in 2022-23.

By contrast, Seider was contesting the second fight of his NHL career, and his first against a legitimate NHL tough guy. Seider’s other bout was with Nashville’s Filip Forsberg.

“I wouldn’t say it’s ideal to square up with a guy who probably has over 50 (fights) in his career,” Seider said. “I don’t know, I didn’t really have much of a choice.

“And obviously, you don’t want to back down.”

Did you know: Moritz Seider has never missed a game for the Detroit Red Wings 🤯

Jeff Marek & Pierre McGuire discuss Moritz Seider setting a new Red Wings iron-man record with 347 straight games to start his career

Listen➡️https://t.co/eqAcTHEZIu
Watch➡️https://t.co/dqj91ARh4F pic.twitter.com/1RmjYrCufc

— The Sheet with Jeff Marek (@thesheethockey) November 17, 2025

Teammate Ben Chiarot felt the message that Seider delivered was more important to the club than the outcome of the fight.

“Mo’s a big, big strong guy,” Chiarot said. “Plays a physical game. Yeah, I thought he did a great job.

“It’s good for the guys, too, seeing one of our top guys do that.”