It took the rest of the hockey world years to realize what Detroit Red Wings fans already knew. That Nicklas Lidstrom was a generational star.
History appears to be repeating itself in the case of Moritz Seider.
Red Wings fans have known for years that the Detroit defenseman is a special player. Slowly but surely, Seider is gaining stature as an elite performer on the larger hockey stage.
When you think about the path that Moritz Seider has had to take, he’s got here in the most difficult way possible. Playing top lines, big ice-time minutes, not missing a single game, make no mistake, this kid is the real deal. Thank you Mo #LGRW
— Marco Kasper IBC Ambassador of Australia (@JPhoenix7) January 22, 2026
His play to create Dylan Larkin’s overtime winner as the Red Wings beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 on Wednesday was a prime example of the type of quality Seider brings to the ice.
Toronto rookie forward Easton Cowan was the last man back for the Leafs during the 3-on-3 OT period, controlling the puck in the neutral zone. Seizing the opportunity, Seider pounced. He charged into Cowan, knocking him off the puck. Then he fed a wide-open Larkin for the game-winner.
It was an elite-level read-and-react play.
“I think Cowan was perhaps surprised by him a little bit,” Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said. “All of a sudden, the defenseman’s up on you, and he’s not going away. And he was strong, heavy on him.”
Red Wings Call Seider Their Diesel Engine
While they play a different style of game, Seider, like Lidstrom, goes about his business in a quiet, professional manner. It’s up to others to provide the accolades.
Larkin may have been viewed as the hero following Wednesday’s win, but he knew who it was that made the heroic play to create his winner.
“Yeah, that’s diesel right there,” Larkin told reporters of Seider. “And he’s got the diesel engine.
“He chases us like that in practice all the time. And I knew when he started chasing Cowan that he was gonna get the puck because he does it. He plays like that.”
Moritz Seider truck sticking someone after the goal is my highlight of the year 😂
— jason demers (@jasondemers5) January 22, 2026
Seider leads the Red Wings in average time on ice (25:19) and blocked shots (112). His 76 hits are second among the club’s defensemen. He tops among the Detroit rearguard in goals (seven) and points (34). Seider’s plus-12 rating is also best on the team.
Since launching his NHL career in 2021, Seider has never missed a game, playing in 379 consecutive games.
Teammates are used to Seider’s relentless approach to the game.
“He’s starting in training camp all the way, every day, really,” Larkin said. “And a strong stick, strong skater. I would have liked to have gone back to him to reward him for all the hard work (on the OT winner), but ran out of real estate.”
It wasn’t until the Red Wings began making playoff runs that the rest of the NHL came to realize how special a player Lidstrom was, and that he started getting mentions in the Norris Trophy conversation.
With Detroit on the verge of returning to the postseason and the national spotlight, perhaps everyone will get to know that Seider is also kind of a big deal.