Moritz "Mo" Seider was the first draft pick Steve Yzerman made as General Manager of the Detroit Red Wings, and that pick, no. 6 overall in 2019 NHL Draft, stands as the first cornerstone of the Red Wings rebuild.
Though he wouldn't play in the show until 2021, Seider's rookie campaign saw him take home the Calder Memorial Trophy with a 50 point(7G, 43A) season to start his career in the NHL. Since then, he hasn't missed any of the 363 games the club has had since his debut, and hasn't had a season without getting over the 40 point mark, all while taking on some of the toughest matchup minutes in the NHL. Going into the second half of December, he's averaging just over 25 minutes a night on a Red Wings team giving up Seider has played on Detroit's top line with a rotating cast including Ben Chiarot, Jake Walman, and Simon Edvinsson at various times.
This season, Seider's offensive production has increased, with 24 points (4G, 20A) through 35 games, Seider leads all Red Wings defenseman by a 11 point margin. The next closest blueliner is Axel Sandin-Pellikka, who is definitionally an "offensive defenseman" with 13 points in his own rookie campaign. Right now, Seider is projecting for a 56 point campaign, which would break the record set in his rookie season.
That doesn't mean that Seider's been letting anything slip with his defensive responsibilities, though. Seider leads Detroit with a +9 rating and is third on the team this season for hits with 62 this year, along with 73 blocked shots. The big blueliner has been one of the most consistent members of a Red Wings team that has struggled to find its footing and maintain pace this season.
With Cale Makar currently leading all defensive players in points with 40, many expect the Avalanche defenseman to be the runaway winner of back to back Norris Trophies. The Avalanche are a juggernaut and have several players in contention for a variety of awards, including a Art Ross run by Nate MacKinnon this year (58 points in 35 games).
Quietly though, on a team that is still looking to find a way to stand out from a crowded Atlantic playoff picture, Mo Seider is putting together a season to contend for the Norris, and maybe even an MVP.