Moritz Seider can sense the uncertainty like anyone else. With the Red Wings in search of a new GM after parting ways with Steve Yzerman while captain Dylan Larkin's trade request hangs over the organization, Seider is doing his best to focus on himself. But that's not easy.
“It’s hard, obviously,” Seider said this week, via the The Athletic. “You always have big expectations going into a fresh year, and there are a lot of question marks. The great thing about that is you can only control yourself. That’s where I see my biggest challenge. I’ve been working out like crazy, I do my job, and I’ll be very excited to get on the plane to Detroit and see all of the boys."
Whether he'll see Larkin upon landing remains remains to be seen. But with each passing day that the Red Wings proceed without a GM and Larkin's request goes unresolved, the possibility grows that Larkin could be in training camp with Detroit when camp opens Sept. 17.
That's not for Seider to decide, of course: "Those are definitely things no player should be asked or should talk about,” he said. “I’m very good in the background. I do my job, I’m very excited about next year and wearing the winged wheel again, but those are things for our owner. I think he probably has a plan in place, and I’ll be very pleased to meet the new leader of our franchise once he is selected."
How are you feeling about the Wings GM search? pic.twitter.com/7yFR2QFwfR
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Seider is coming off the best season of his career. He posted a personal-high 60 points and finished fifth in Norris Trophy voting. At the age of 24, he officially entered the conversation of the best defensemen in the game. But Seider is far from satisfied: "I feel like there’s more in the tank, there’s more to achieve."
"Yes, it was cool to have the first taste of being thrown in the conversations with the best defensemen, but you want to be there every single year. You want to have your name compared with the best of the best, and I’m very far away from that. I think next year will be a great step to get one step closer to being in that conversation," he said.
Another step for Seider would help the Red Wings take another step toward the playoffs. And that's what he's focused on more than anything else. Detroit's 10-year playoff drought is a franchise worst, hence the upheaval in the organization. Yzerman is out as GM. Larkin could soon be out as captain.
And the captain in waiting could be Seider. He's desperate to bring playoff hockey back to Detroit and to a building that's never experienced it.
The Red Wings reportedly have 100 candidates for their new GM pic.twitter.com/yserx8CDM2
— 97.1 The Ticket: (@971theticketxyt) August 20, 2026
“It’s time,” said Seider. “You feel bad for everyone in the city. You feel bad for the arena. It’s such a precious building, and it hasn’t seen a playoff game since opening (in 2017). I think it’s time to pay back for not only the city, but also the fans, because they’ve been behind us for the good times and now for numerous years of not-so-good times.
“Hopefully we can turn the page and get a real special atmosphere.”
Seider also touched on his relationship with Yzerman, the GM who shocked the hockey world by drafting Seider sixth overall in 2019 -- one of the best moves of Yzerman's tenure.
“I can only say how thankful I am for his opportunity back in ’19, where he saw something in me a lot of people didn’t see at the time,” Seider said. "He took a big risk putting my name on this board that early, and I think that’s something that obviously makes my connection a little bit more special with him, and that’s something I’ll always really be thankful for."
