Moritz Seider Reveals How Red Wings Plan to Silence Their Doubters

The Detroit Red Wings are not entering the 2026-27 season with lofty expectations of greatness. After a tumultuous offseason marked by a trade request, a change in general manager and the NHL's longest active playoff drought, skepticism is a familiar part of the team's uniform. Moritz Seider, the team's assistant coach, seems at ease with this.

Speaking after Friday's training camp practice, Seider outlined the team's approach to dealing with the noise surrounding the organization. The strategy is straightforward: keep outside distractions at bay, handle sensitive conversations privately and provide the team with a different talking point once the games begin. "I think we just leave it once we enter the door," Seider stated.

"It's pretty simple." While this plan may sound easy to implement, it's a challenge to execute. The Red Wings must avoid letting the uncertainty surrounding Dylan Larkin, Simon Edvinsson and the front office consume their season before it begins. Seider believes these issues can be transformed into something other than an excuse.

Seider wants the Red Wings to create their own narrative. The team's recent summer was filled with stories, most of which were not flattering. Steve Yzerman was removed as general manager, Larkin requested a trade and eventually lost the captaincy, Edvinsson entered camp without a contract, and Shawn Horcoff was named interim general manager after the most crucial roster decisions had already been made.

Seider believes that the locker room can transform this chaos into motivation. "It's been a pretty eventful summer for everyone, but other than that, I think that comes with a great opportunity to come even closer together and kind of write your own story," he said during his Friday media availability. Seider did not complain about disrespect or make a reckless playoff prediction.

He acknowledged that the Red Wings are being overlooked and challenged his teammates to seize this opportunity. Detroit's critics have ample evidence to support their skepticism. The team has missed the playoffs in ten consecutive seasons and faltered during last season's second half after briefly boasting one of the NHL's best records.

The roster lost Patrick Kane while struggling to find a suitable replacement for Larkin's offensive presence if a trade occurs. Furthermore, questions about ownership and the front office have added pressure to an organization already running out of patience. Seider acknowledges that optimism alone won't alter this situation. His message emphasizes daily habits over grand pronouncements.

He praised coach Todd McLellan for setting this tone at the beginning of camp. "Todd nailed it," Seider said. "Starting camp, he said we just have to win the day, and I think that's how we approach it." Seider noted that Detroit's speed, physicality and urgency during the first two days of practice suggest that players are understanding their assignment.

These aspects will prove more valuable than offseason chatter once the schedule begins. Blocking out noise does not mean avoiding communication. Seider emphasized that Detroit wants more players to speak up within the locker room, regardless of their role or position on the roster. "If somebody sees something that other people didn't, then he should be able to say something," Seider said.

"The more people who speak up, the better we'll become." While Seider has not named a new captain until the permanent hockey operations leader evaluates the situation, he stressed that leadership cannot be put on hold while ownership conducts its search. Seider has also been cautious not to turn Larkin's situation into a public spectacle.

He acknowledged Larkin's presence at camp as a positive sign and stated that the Red Wings have an opportunity to improve as a team with him. The Red Wings aim to respond to their doubters by minimizing public explanations, fostering internal accountability and ultimately, securing victories. Detroit has years of promises that better days are on the horizon.

Seider's challenge is to ensure this team moves beyond talk and actually changes its story in the present.