Tag Archives: Moritz Seider

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BLH Guest Post: A 2019 NHL Mock Draft (Picks 16-31) By Terrance Grise

I was so impressed with Terrance Grise’s previous 2019 NHL mock draft that I asked him if he wouldn’t mind mocking up the rest of the first round. Luckily for me, he said yes and now you get to enjoy the fruits of his labor too!

If you haven’t read his previous article, check that out here and don’t forget to give Terrance a follow on Twitter here.

On to Mr. Grise’s 2019 NHL Mock Draft (picks 16-31)!

16.) Arthur Kaliyev – (COL Avalanche)

Colorado has put together a formidable defense, so assuming they don’t move this pick before Friday I’m expecting them to focus on forwards and goaltending. Adding Turcotte and Kaliyev would be a great way to stock their shelves for the future. Notching 102 points this past season with Hamilton Bulldogs, Kaliyev more than doubled his point totals from his first year in the OHL. What’s even more impressive is that he split that total evenly between goals and assists. Showing that he can set up teammates, as well as get the job done himself. Despite putting up that many points, Kaliyev has struggled in the draft rankings. A couple of sites even have him falling into the 2nd round. Given that he is a big winger that has proven he can use the tools he has in an elite way, this is right around the area that I would expect him to be taken.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwnkMElynFo

17.) Moritz Seider – (VGK Golden Knights)

After having their first real big playoff controversy, earning their stripes as true NHL hockey fans, the Vegas faithful are going to be looking for a boost going into the 2019-2020 season. Seider definitely will not be ready to suit up in the Knights gear next season, but he should give fans something to look forward to. Everyone in this league knows how valuable right shot, top pairing defensemen are, and Moritz Seider brings the goods. His point totals don’t jump out at you managing just 6 points in 29 games. What stands out is how much his coaches use and trust him. By all accounts, he has tremendous hockey sense, so if he proves to have a scoring touch as well he could prove to be the second best defenseman from this class.

18.) Alex Newhook – (DAL Stars)

Leading the Victoria Grizzlies of the BCHL, as both the team captain and scoring leader, Alex Newhook is a prime example of how deep this draft is in forwards. He led the league with 102 points, outscoring the next best forward by 18 points. He also had 35 more points than his closest teammate. Impressive, but also part of the reason I couldn’t justify ranking him ahead of Kaliyev who put up the same totals in the OHL. His footwork is very impressive and allows him to maintain possessions while fighting past defenders. He’s a guy that wants to carry the puck into the zone and does so effectively.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQWvYZRv-OQ

19.) Victor Soderstrom – ( OTT Senators)

Soderstrom was very impressive in the SHL as an 18-year-old. This should make Sens fans happy that Pierre Dorion was able to recover a first round pick in this draft. His skating and first pass are exactly the kind of qualities scouts and GMs are looking for given the current way the game is being played. At a young age, he is already risk-averse and rarely makes the wrong play. For these reasons, he is one of the guys I could see leaping into the top 15 if teams are looking to add to their defensive depth.

20.) Cam York – (WPG Jets)

Thankfully my contact with the Jets filled me in on the Trouba trade details so I didn’t look like a moron predicting who the Rangers would take with this pick. Too bad when you consider all the possible play on words that could have been if the Rangers did, in fact, draft him. All joking aside, York is a great two-way defender who quarterbacked the USNDP team this past season, providing all their forwards with the pillar they required to maximize their effectiveness at both ends. However, he is a guy that is going to need a solid 3-4 seasons to ripen before you can expect to see him throw on an NHL sweater.

21.) Matthew Robertson – (PIT Penguins)

Calen Addison is probably the best prospect in the Penguins system, but I can’t shake this feeling that Jim Rutherford is hoping that a defenseman will fall to them on Friday. One thing that is unique to Robertson’s game compared to his peers is his poker face. Oil Kings fans probably know what I’m talking about. Robertson rarely looks in the direction that he passes, this makes him a nightmare for defenders cause he rarely misses a pass. He also is very effective at maintaining the offensive zone and moving across the blueline to open up seams. Also, given the physical tools he has, he may already be ahead of Addison developmentally.

22.) Vladislav Kolyachonok – (LA Kings)

Given that they already have Gabriel Vilardi in their system and will almost certainly draft a forward with the 5th overall pick, it is very likely that the Kings will look for a defenseman with this pick. Kolyachonok has shown that he is equally effective at both ends and shows up to work night in and night out. A great add for any team, but even more so for one with an aging blueline.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sqpm3DqQ2Tg

23.) Ryan Suzuki – (NYI Islanders)

Taking both Noah Dobson and Oliver Wahlstrom early in the first round last year the New York Islanders did very well for themselves in 2018. Ryan Suzuki could be a very nice compliment to their growing pool of young talent. With very quick hands and well-developed edges, Suzuki managed to produce pretty effectively on a weak Colts team. He also has a very underrated backhand, using it to surprise goaltenders and defenders alike. He does have a tendency to avoid confrontations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybldFog5TkY

24.) Thomas Harley – (NSH Predators)

You sometimes think that Thomas Harley is scared of having the puck on his stick with how quickly he gets passes and shots off. In reality, he is just a quick thinker and likes to rush his opponents with the hopes that they will make a mistake before he does. This is a strategy that has worked for the young man from Syracuse. Another strength he has is cross seam passing, plays that can be risky, but usually payoff if they are executed correctly. With how successful the Predators have been in recent years, I think they would consider this pick a big offseason victory.

25.) Connor McMichael – (WSH Capitals)

“Creativity” is a word that comes to mind when you watch Connor McMichael with the puck. He doesn’t need a lot of space to make things happen either, and when players possess the instincts that he does, opportunities occur early and often. Coaches will like that they won’t have to press on him to shoot the pill as often as he can. He is a guy that will make a very comfortable living by getting pucks on net and jamming home rebounds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK9lgwo9j0k

26.) Brett Leason – (CGY Flames)

If anyone is going to take a chance on an overager who has commanded the attention of scouts, it would probably be a team whose window to win is open, and will require as much depth as they can possibly acquire, right away. Calgary fits this description, and Leason checks off a lot of boxes that a team like Calgary is looking to fill. A big right winger who’s not afraid to throw his weight around, while also having decent offensive ability. Sounds like a player that would fit into the Flames current model. Probably doesn’t hurt that he is a local product either.

27.) Tobias Bjornfot – (TB Lightning)

If Tampa Bay learnt anything from their embarrassing first-round exit, it’s that there is still room in the game for players that have an edge to their game. This is an aspect that Bjornfot has in his kit and doesn’t mind using. He is also very mobile and has the ability to walk the blueline to open up gaps. He also managed to put up 22 points in just 39 games in Sweden’s J20 SuperElit league. An accomplishment that hasn’t gone unnoticed.

28.) Yegor Afanasyev – (CAR Hurricanes)

This draft is full of big forwards who can shoot and Afanasyev is no exception this trend. He’s also a guy who is going to require a bit more development time, as he lacks experience in “pro-style” environments. But Carolina is a team with a relatively young group of forwards, and this pick has the potential to pay dividends in the future.

29.) Samuel Poulin – (ANH Ducks)

With an aging core group of forwards, Anaheim needs to get young quickly. Poulin is yet another larger winger with good hands and lethal release. Like Suzuki, he is a guy that has obviously put in the time working on his backhand. He played on both wings with the Sherbrooke Phoenix over the last year on his way to putting up 76 points. If you recognize the name it’s because his father, Patrick Poulin, is a former NHLer.

30.) Bobby Brink – (BOS Bruins)

Similar in stature to Cole Caufield, Brink has incredible vision and anticipation. He likes to pick his spots ahead of time and arrives at the right moment to capitalize. He has an exceptional one-timer and on-ice work ethic that enables him to be effective even with his smaller frame. Having already committed to the University of Denver, expect to hear his name in consideration for the Hobey Baker award in the not too distant future. Boston has a habit of drafting local area guys that they’ve seen a lot of and this is a trend that I fully expect to continue here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiY7d7vMgTA

31.) Alex Vlasic – (BUF Sabres)

Buffalo is one of three teams with two picks in the first round of this draft. With their second pick, I think they will look to add some defensive depth. Standing at 6’6”, Vlasic adds a lot of that. Very well composed under pressure, he uses his frame to avoid making the wrong play. Smothering the puck into the boards if necessary, he knows he can win the battle the majority of times. High percentage plays is the name of the game that this kid plays, and he plays with a quiet smoothness that casual fans probably won’t recognize, but diehards will appreciate in the key moments of games.

Suffice it to say, I am pretty excited for Friday. I’m really hoping we see some moves made and some picks moved. If there ever was a draft for it, this would be the one. Level heads always seem to prevail when Bettman takes the mic, unfortunately.

As an Oilers fan, there are a few guys I’d love to see throw on the copper and blue, so here they are in order of who is least likely to be available at 8th to most: Bowen Byram, Kirby Dach, Matthew Boldy.

Comments and feedback are always appreciated! Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter here.

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Edmonton Oilers: Weekly #AskBLH Mailbag + The 2019 NHL Entry Drafts 1st and 2nd Team All-Stars from @KeithFries

It’s time to get into the #AskBLH mailbag one more time! This is where you ask me any question you’d like and I give you my honest answer. Topics might simply be centered on the Edmonton Oilers, but I encourage folks to step outside that box and ask me whatever is on their minds.

Now, I hope to get around to everybody who sends me their question, but sometimes it doesn’t work out. In that case, I will do my best to get back to you on the ol’ Twitter machine.

THE MAILBAG!

@dashate24 asks: Why do we want to trade Lucic for a more useless player?

Good question my friend! I think it’s just a matter of giving guys a fresh start in other markets. What I’m wondering is why the Oilers are the ones having to sweeten the deal if the Canucks are the ones who really want Lucic?

@AhmedMayta asks: Realistic free agents Oilers should target?

You know what Ahmed? I think it’s going to be really hard to gauge this until we know what the roster is going to look like the night before Canada Day. I would say they should go after players like Dan Carr, Brandon Pirri, Joonas Donskoi, and Brian Elliott, but if they find a way to clear up some cap space by trading some of their bigger tickets, that changes things. You might see them go after players like Gus Nyquist, Marcus Johansson, or Anton Stralman then.

@adnacOilGhost asks: You replace Bob Nicholson as CEO, what’s the very first thing you do?

Oh! I like this question. I’d make it as affordable as possible to go to regular season games for everyone. Bringing down the prices on healthier food options would be a must for me. I’d do what it takes to make the in-game presentation one that rivals that of Vegas’ or Nashville’s. The fan experience is really important to me, so I’d try to maximize that potential the most.

I enjoy anarchy a bit, so I’d also give media passes to the Oilers bloggers out there who pass my rigorous interview process.

As for the team itself, I’d encourage my GM to expand the scouting team as much as possible. I feel like teams really skimp out here. I want scouts everywhere, including Asia. I’d be having hockey camps all over the world promoting the brand and keeping an eye out for talent.

@dashate24 asks: Is it possible that Poolparty (Puljujarvi) gets an offer sheet at $2M x 4 years, and if he does, do we take the 3rd rounder?

I’d match it. JP at $2M for four years would be an amazing contract.

@ArchivistSports asks: What do you think JP will do this June/July?

I think he’ll head home and resume his off-ice training and participate in his annual charity games. Whether he comes back in September or not, we’ll have to wait and see on that.

@Tusen_bitar asks: Why and when you have chosen Oilers?

I was born in 1980, so one might consider me to have been born into the Oilers. My father tells me stories of cheering for Edmonton when I was a very young lad during their Cup dynasty days but I don’t really remember much about that.

As I got older I gravitated towards the Red Wings because of Yzerman/Coffey/Federov and the Penguins for Lemieux/Jagr/Coffey in the early 90s. I liked Peter Forsberg and the Avs for a while and also the Maple Leafs when Curtis Joseph was playing net for them too.

But I always had the Oilers in my back pocket. It wasn’t really until they started to get really bad as to when I ramped up my interest in the team and I simply haven’t found a reason to not cheer for them since then.

@OilDoug asks: What happens with Lucic this offseason. Stay? Go? What comes back?

He gone. What comes back for him? Who knows? It sounds like a player who needs a change of scenery like Milan.

@LonnbergMari asks: If Leavins is right and part of the team just doesn’t want to play with him, what should a smart gm do? Resign or trade and in either case, just hope for the best?

I’m torn on this. Aren’t we sick of the locker room cliques on this team yet? If Holland believes there’s still something in Jesse, he could sit down those guilty of alienating Jesse and give them a stern grilling. Then at the same time, sit Pulju down and tell him it’s time to grow up and that we don’t always work/play with people we like.

But if things are simply too broken, he would find a way to move him and get a good like-aged player in return. My fear in this scenario is that Jesse hits his stride on another club and the Oilers get burned though.

When it’s all said and done though, the players have a job to do, so they should go and do it.

THE 2019 NHL ENTRY DRAFTS 1ST AND 2ND TEAM ALL-STARS by Keith Fries

With this article, I thought it’d be fun to try and construct all-first and all-second teams for this year’s draft-eligible prospects.

Keep in mind that I went with the player’s primary position.

All-First Team

LW – Matthew Boldy  /  C – Jack Hughes  /  RW – Kaapo Kakko

LD – Bowen Byram  /  RD – Moritz Seider

LG – Spencer Knight

A forward line made up of Boldy, Hughes, and Kakko would likely be nicknamed, “Goals and Grit.”

While Hughes maybe is more on the “goals” side than the grit one, there’s no doubt that he’s flanked by some rough riders with skill. We know of Kakko’s explosive offensive abilities, but Boldy also shows a propensity to score. All three are great puck movers. Speaking of which, there’s Byram whose bread and butter is getting the puck out of his own zone. Playing alongside the physically imposing Seider would make those breakout rushes much easier for Byram. Once the puck enters the offensive zone, both defensemen have the ability to jump into the play as a fourth-forward. In their own zone, Seider is the more reliable defender of the two and is helped in net by arguably one of the best goaltending prospects of all-time. Knight, who some would say has franchise potential, doesn’t need much help in front of him to be the brick wall that he is.

This starting line-up certainly helps, though, but even if playing with an All-Worst Team, Knight would find ways to make his squad seem competitive.

All-Second Team

LW – Peyton Krebs  /  C – Alex Turcotte  /  RW – Cole Caufield

LD – Philip Broberg  /  RD – Victor Soderstrom

LG – Dustin Wolf

Krebs, Turcotte, and Caufield would not only be a hell of a trio, but could legitimately be one of the best power play units, in history.

Krebs’ distribution game is off the charts, and with his smart reads and calculated timing, could dish out some beautiful primary assists to either Caufield or Turcotte. We know Caufield is arguably the best sniper in his entire draft class, but Turcotte’s shooting stroke is just as pretty and just as effective. While he may be more of a playmaker, like Krebs, Turcotte has the kind of slick mitts that you want in a centerman to either set up his linemates or finish with a remarkable shot. On the back end, they’re flanked by two highly-skilled Swedish-born defensemen, Soderstrom and Broberg. While Soderstrom handles more of the defensive duties – sound play in his own end, moving the puck along the boards, or manning the point, Broberg is able to jump into the rush with his lightning quick speed and heads up play. The two would make a formidable pairing, with a complimentary skill set. An argument could be made about who slots in at goaltender, here – possibly Ilya Konovalov or Mads Sogaard – but there’s no argument in my mind. Wolf has been lights out since debuting in the WHL in 2017 and has received nothing but criticism along the way – all because of his undersized frame. His IQ, compete level, and maturity are all well beyond his years.

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2019 NHL Draft: Who Are the Best Playmakers, Hitters, and Offensive Dmen? by @keithfries

As we come down the final stretch of draft season, NHL scouts are compiling their final rankings for the 2019 NHL draft and journalists are trying to pretend they know what they’re talking about. Yeah… I went there.

Here at Beer League Heroes, we like to keep it light but also informative. So grab a beer and kick back while you read this edition of our dating game: Loves, Lusts, Booms, and Busts.

Let’s start with our first set of eligible prospects, the playmakers.

Even with an undersized frame and lack of physical defense, it’s hard to not fall in love with Jack Hughes. While he may have the scoring touch of a Patrick Kane, of the 112 points Hughes tallied with the USNTDP’s U18 hockey club, this season, 78 were assists. That speaks incredibly well to his team-first mentality and style of play.

Jack Hughes: Lust

Trevor Zegras, who some have dubbed (unfairly) “Jack Hughes Lite,” has some of the best playmaking abilities in this draft class. In fact, his high level of skill is not only greatly desired by scouts but also has become an area of concern – many fearing his exceptional plays won’t carry over well into the NHL. But, Zegras is aware of these negative remarks, stating at the 2019 NHL Scouting Combine, “What works in the USHL won’t work in the NCAA. And what works in the NCAA won’t work in the NHL.” Zegras’ self-awareness is a good reflection of his high I.Q.

Trevor Zegras: Love

While he certainly has performed well enough, this season, to garner attention from scouts and pundits, alike, Brett Leason may very well be playing above his potential – in his last year of Draft eligibility. He played incredibly well in the OHL/CHL playoffs and seems to have found his niche as a playmaking winger. He has great size and because of his age there’s maturity there, but when you factor in things like he’s never cracked 100 points in a regular season and that his numbers took a significant jump this year than in previous ones, you might be looking at a bust more than a sure-fire first-round talent, here.

Brett Leason: Bust

Finally, Ryan Suzuki; who has dropped on many draft boards but still has the upside as a true top-6 forward. His ice-vision and quarterbacking are made for today’s game, and, when you factor in that he was the first-overall pick in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection Draft, you have to think his maturity is off the charts. While he may not beat out his brother, Nick, for draft rights (Nick was selected 13th-overall in 2017 by the Vegas Golden Knights), Ryan definitely has the same game as his brother and potentially a higher ceiling.

Ryan Suzuki: Boom

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Next, let’s take a look at the hard-hitters.

While this draft seems a bit subdued in the physicality department, a top prospect that has some grit and throws his weight around is Moritz Seider. At 6’4” – 207 lbs., Seider looked more than comfortable playing in the German adult league (DEL), this season, and capped off the year with a nice performance in their playoffs and the World Championships representing Team Germany. He drew the most attention at the NHL Scouting Combine, noting to reporters that he had met with all-31 clubs – meaning the whole league is in love with him.

Moritz Seider: Love

Swedish-born prospect, Albin Grewe, would certainly be in this conversation. His game is largely predicated on wearing down the opposition with his strength, whether he’s delivering a check, bodying up a defender along the boards, or just being a general pest against the puck carrier. While he likely will fall to day 2, I still feel Grewe has the skillset to make it as an everyday NHLer. I had the pleasure of interviewing him, earlier this season, and he seemed like a straight-shooter, no bullshite.

Albin Grewe: Boom

One name I’ve seen floating around is Navrin Mutter, the 6’3” centerman from the OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs. A two-way freight train, one had better keep their head on a swivel when Mutter is nearby. While his stats suggest he’d likely be a bottom-6 NHLer, and therefore a “bust” in this dating game, I’d like to avoid getting my ass kicked by one tough ‘mutter’ – SHUT YO’ CLEVER MOUTH! So…

Navrin Mutter: LOVE!! (Please don’t kill me)

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Our last category, for this week’s episode (part two coming soon), is offensive defensemen.

Philip Broberg drew love from the media, early on in the season, due to his exceptional breakout plays from his own end. One of the best skaters in this draft, Broberg can reach top-speed like a Tesla Roadster. He can absolutely rifle the puck and looks like he could be a solid PP defenseman, in the NHL. He could stand to work on his defensive game a bit, but again we’re talking about offensive defenseman, and in that conversation, he’s undoubtedly a hot commodity.

Philip Broberg: Boom

While he has fallen on many draft boards into the second, even third, round, Anttoni Honka began the season as a potential top-10 pick. His ability to carry the puck 200-feet is certainly intriguing, with good passing in the opposition zone, as well. He’s a really good skater, with shifty feet and quick lateral transitions. I’m not so down on him as some other draft analysts. He did a nice job contributing to the score sheet while playing for various clubs and leagues.

Anttoni Honka: Lust

Finally, there’s Lassi Thomson, a Finnish-born defenseman currently playing for the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets. A personal checkmark in my scouting book is whether or not someone made the jump to international waters – be it a European coming to North America or vice versa. Some scouts seem irritated by his lack of physicality on the defensive end, but then quickly turn around and glorify his offensive upside. While I err on the side of optimism, I can admit he needs work. But his ability to join the rush, coupled with his versatile shot combinations and strong backhand, is desirable for today’s NHL.

Lassi Thomson: Bust

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TPE Hockey 2019 NHL Draft Profile: Moritz Seider (D) – German Destroyer

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In the past few years, a new force in hockey has risen. At the Olympics, in early 2018, Germany took the tournament by storm and got second only to the stacked Russian team. Despite the lack of NHL players in the tournament it still left an important impact on German hockey. The Olympic success showed the larger trend of the growth of German hockey in the past years.

In the history of the draft 72 German players have been picked and at least one from every draft since 2014. The first German player ever drafted, Orest Romashyna, was taken 3rd overall all the way back in the first draft in 1963. Although I won’t count that pick since the draft in 1963 was a joke, Romashyna didn’t play a single game and retired after finishing college at the Univ. Of Waterloo.

Other than Romashyna only five Germans have been picked in the 1st round and two in recent memory. In 2014, the Oilers very own Leon Draisaitl was taken 3rd overall and became the first highly touted German prospect in the modern era. Draisaitl was one of the first Germans to take the CHL route to the NHL. He came over to North America after being drafted to the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL through the CHL Import Draft. The other major prospect coming from German was Dominik Bokk in this past 2018 draft. Bokk took a different path than Draisaitl after going to Sweden to play for the Växjö Lakers (pronounced Vek-wah) in Sweden’s junior system. Bokk was drafted in the CHL Import Draft but was picked by the Prince Albert Raiders, the same team that Draisaitl played on. Although the belief is that Bokk only wanted to play for an OHL team rather than Prince Albert who play in the WHL.

Check out this shift-by-shift from Prospectshifts.com

This all brings us to the next top German prospect in Moritz Seider. Seider has decided to take a different path than either Bokk or Draisaitl. Despite being picked by the Owen Sound Attack of the OHL, Seider has chosen to remain playing in Germany. The German route to the NHL is pretty untested as the last high draft pick to come out of the German system was Marcel Goc back in 2001.

Last season Seider played in the DNL. “What’s the DNL?” I hear you asking, well the DNL is the under 19 German junior league. It’s part of the fairly weak main junior hockey circuit in Germany which explains why Seider is such an obscure prospect. He’s played in an unknown league where he hasn’t gotten much exposure. With that in mind, Seider played with Jungadler Mannheim in the DNL which is the best team in German junior hockey. They are the best team for the development of young players in the DNL. They’ve won the DNL title seven consecutive times and in the 18-year history of the DNL championship, they were the champions 15 times. They’re basically the London Knights of the DNL.

Seider will not remain playing for Jungadler Mannheim next year though. If all goes well he will play for the big club in Adler Mannheim of the DEL. The DEL is the top professional circuit in Germany. The DEL is actually quite a good league. Right now the Champions Hockey League is going on. The Champions League takes the best teams from around Europe (except the KHL) and puts them in a singular league. Currently, EHC Munchen of the DEL leads their group over big teams like TPS Turku and the Malmö RedHawks. So the DEL is a respectable league and seeing a 17-year old competing there will put Seider on the map.

Now that we know where he’ll play, let’s find out what he has achieved. Being German, Seider hasn’t gotten international exposure but has competed in World Junior tournaments. Seider got to play as a 16-year-old on Germany’s U18 and U20 World Junior teams. Both teams competed in the 1A division of IIHF competition which is the division right under the division with Canada, USA, etc. They played teams like Kazakhstan and Latvia who won gold and silver while Germany won bronze. For the U18 squad Seider recorded three assists and for the U20 team he put up one goal.

 In league play, Seider played quite well. He spent most of his time in the DNL where he scored 13 points in 14 games. He led all defensemen his age in points per game and was 10th among forwards and defensemen in points per game of players his age. He was also heavily relied on for huge minutes and played both on both the penalty kill and power play top pairing. Seider also got a short stint in the DEL playing four games and went pointless. He debuted in the league in late December of 2017 at 16 years old. Despite going pointless Seider still competed at that level while getting extremely sheltered minutes.

Moritz Seider’s accomplishments are good but not outstanding, his game is where he thrives. The two most notable attributes to him are his physicality and passing. His physicality is immediately noticeable. He’s a big guy at 6’4” (192cm) and 183lbs (83kg) and he uses that size very well. Seider loves to lay a huge hit, but sometimes take himself out of position. He is a feared player on the ice and you can’t put your head down around him. His physicality also helps him in the d-zone as he is a force around the front of the net. He’s also strong on his skates. Seider makes it hard for a forward to put up a screen as he can body them out since he’s so strong on his feet.

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Seider’s second notable attribute is his passing ability. The most pivotal part of his passing is his stellar ability to start a breakout with a great first outlet pass up the ice. He’s such a smart passer because he sees the ice so well. In an interview with his DEL team, Adler Mannheim, he said this about it. Keep in mind that the interview was in German so all quotes are translated and aren’t perfect.

“I would say that I have a good understanding of the game. I play a good first pass, engage in the offensive and see the open spaces where my teammates can run. The game with the puck and the game on offense are characteristic of my style of play.” -Moritz Seider

Seider is a very smart passer and rarely makes a bad decision with the puck. The only issue with his passing is that sometimes he takes too long to make his move. Otherwise, he stands out as one of the better passers in the draft.

 While passing and physicality are the most notable parts of his game, there is a lot more to him. Seider talked about his hard-working attitude and dedication to the game in that same interview.

“You just have to work harder than everyone else and I think that’s the case with me. While many of my teammates drove home after three or four hours, I pushed extra shifts. But you also have to be crazy about the sport. At home, I watched a lot of videos of my role models and paid attention to what differentiates them from other players, what they do better. I think that you also have to deal with your sport away from the ice. But I’m also very ambitious, never give up.” -Moritz Seider

Seider also talked about his role models, one of which is former Devils star Scott Neidermayer. Seider says he works to emulate is game after Neidermayer and play just like him. Another player he watches is Zach Werenski. He says he enjoys Werenski’s offensive prowess and considers his focus to also be on offense.

The focus on offense brings us to Seider’s offensive skill. His passing is the biggest attribute to his offensive game, but he is also a solid goal scorer. 6 of his 13 points in the DNL season were goals. His big body and strength allow him to really rip the puck. Other offensive strengths include his puck protection, top speed, play with the puck, and especially his play on the rush. Seider can start a rush with his outlet pass or take the puck up himself. He doesn’t have great explosiveness or acceleration, but once he gets up to top speed he is near unstoppable. Even with all this offensive skill, Seider is still more of a two-way defender with prowess in both zones.

Seider is all upside though. The biggest flaw in his game is his play away from the puck. When the puck isn’t on his stick or around him he doesn’t contribute much. In the offensive zone when the puck is deep in the zone he doesn’t do much at all. You can often catch him standing still and not contributing at all. While this isn’t a game breaking flaw it defiantly holds him back. We see with others top defensive prospects like Quinn Hughes they are always involved in some way no matter the situation. This is a part of Seider’s game that could make him great rather than good.

This all brings us to his draft position. Where does he go in 2019? Scouts are split right now. Many don’t know who he is and others have trouble judging him after he mostly played in an unremarkable league. Future Consideration is the only major scouting bureau with him listed in the first round at the #30 spot. Personally, in my upcoming rankings, he barely slides into the first round at #31. It’s very hard to analyze him at this point after spending last season in the DNL. Next year, likely in the DEL, we will get a better look at him and learn what he’s truly about.

*This profile is courtesy of Max from TPE Hockey. You can follow him on Twitter here for more coverage on NHL prospects!*

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