The Detroit Red Wings are looking to snap their playoff drought, and so far in training camp, the team is showing an intense effort.
Although the team has just had practices and preseason games, Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin has been impressed with one star player. Larkin has been impressed with star defenseman Mortiz Sieder and his physicality early in camp.
“He’s hard to play against, and I’m thankful he’s on our team,” Larkin said. “I don’t like playing against him. … He looks good. He sets the tone physically. I’ve really been impressed with his camp and the first phase of it.”
Seider hit 6-foot-8 forward Elmer Söderblom into the bench on Sept. 20, according to The Athletic’s Max Bultman. He also has big hits on Michael Brandsegg-Nygård and Carter Bear, and got into a scrm with J.T. Compher.
It’s clear Seider is taking the camp seriously, as even in practice, he’s doing whatever it takes to win, which Larkin is pleased by.
Seider is entering the second year of his seven-year, $59.85 million deal with the Red Wings. He recorded 8 goals and 38 assists for 46 points in 82 games last season with Detroit.
McLellan Believes Seider Doesn’t Have a Ceiling
Todd McLellan is in his first training camp as the Red Wings coach after taking over during the season last year.
Although he hasn’t even been coaching the team a full season, he has been impressed with Seider. During the season, he praised the star defenseman and claimed he doesn’t have a ceiling and can be one of the best defenseman in the NHL.
“He’s a horse,” McLellan said. “He can handle those minutes. He can block shots, he recovers well, and all those things are great, but there’s a lot more there. There’s a lot more learning to do. We’ll keep working with him. He seems to be a sponge. He wants to absorb stuff and try it, so I wouldn’t put any type of ceiling on him yet. There’s a lot left in him, and we’re going to push him for it.”
Seider is the Red Wings’ No. 1 defenseman and will need to continue to be that for Detroit to snap its playoff drought.
Red Wings Coach Still Wants More From Players
Although Larkin has been impressed with Seider, McLellan still wants to see more from certain players.
With roster cuts looming, McLellan says he wants some players to pick it up and make sure they don’t have their foot on the brake.
“I told the group today that there are some players that have come here and they’re kind of riding the brake a little bit,” McLellan said on Sept. 20. “And then there’s players that come to make the team. And if you’ve been riding the brake a little bit, figure out who you are, and let loose. You can’t play conservative all the time. If you make mistakes, we’ll help you. But if your biggest mistake is you’re playing with your foot on the brake all the time, we can’t help you with that.”
McLellan says the preseason games will tell a lot about players and what roles they have on the team. But, he also knows some roster spots are up for grabs, and he wants players to go out and command the job.
Detroit opens its season on Oct. 9 against the Montreal Canadiens.
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