Seider Named One of Three Finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy

On Wednesday morning, the NHL announced that the three finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy include Moritz Seider, Michael Bunting, and Trevor Zegras.

The Red Wings’ sixth overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft was able to step seamlessly into Detroit’s lineup and immediately became the go-to guy on the backend.

Coming into the season, Seider’s defensive game was well documented from his previous season in the SHL, where he was named the Defenseman of the Year. Still, the question was how big of an impact he would have offensively. Seider had the third-best offensive season by a rookie defenseman in Red Wings history, only behind Nicklas Lidstrom and Reed Larson.

Seider played all 82 games this season, finishing with seven goals and 43 assists for a total of 50 points while averaging over 23 minutes per game, which is over two minutes more than any other rookie. Seider also ranks first amongst rookies in assists and fourth in points.

Seider did all of this without a consistent partner, as throughout the season, he played with the likes of Nick Leddy, Danny DeKeyser, and Jordan Oesterle. With all due respect to those three players, they are not top-pair caliber defensemen, which leads to Seider carrying the majority of the workload on both sides of the ice.

He also finished 19th in the entire NHL for points by a defenseman, not too shabby for a 20-year-old.

While Zegras and Bunting both had excellent rookie campaigns, it’s a rarity in NHL history for a rookie defenseman to have a season as Moritz Seider did. Amongst the consensus, it seems that the Calder Trophy is all but certainly going to be awarded to Seider at the NHL awards in June.


Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Leave a Reply

2025 NHL Entry Draft

With the 6th and 12th Overall Pick, the Philadelphia Flyers Select…

Following round one of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers selected Porter Martone from the Brampton Steelheads at 6th overall, and Jack Nesbitt at 12th overall after trading their 22nd and 31st overall picks to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Porter Martone Related: 2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Porter Martone Martone is an 18-year-old right-winger […]

Read More
Sam Bennett accepting the Conn Smythe Trophy.

The Florida Panthers Extend Sam Bennett

He said it himself at E11even, he wasn’t leaving. One of the biggest free agents is now off the market and locked up long term as the Florida Panthers announced Friday night ahead of the draft that he’d been extended. Bennett’s been a huge part of Florida’s success in the postseason en route to back-to-back […]

Read More

Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood Traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired right-shot centre Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick (77th overall) and a conditional 2027 second-round pick, alongside prospect Gavin Brindley. The conditions of the 2027 second-round pick are that the pick will be the lower of Columbus’ second-round picks […]

Read More