Where did Moritz Seider learn to fight?
Detroit Red Wings’ 22-year-old defenseman Moritz Seider engaged in his first career NHL fight on Saturday afternoon. The combatant? None other than Nashville Predators star forward and leading scorer Filip Forsberg.
The bout took place during the second period of Saturday’s heated game between the Red Wings and Preds at Bridgestone Arena. Not one to back down from a challenge, Seider took exception to a cross-check by Forsberg and immediately dropped his gloves.
Despite it being his first NHL fight, Seider held his own against Forsberg, landing several solid punches and using his reach to his advantage. The bout lasted over 20 seconds, with both players exchanging blows and the crowd at Bridgestone Arena roaring with approval.
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“Just battling for the puck and got cross-checked, and we got the best of our emotions,” Seider told Bally Sports Detroit after the game. “It was pretty enjoyable for everyone. It’s a lot of emotion in that game.”
We hear from defenseman Moritz Seider after his first NHL fight in the Red Wings' 1-0 loss to the Nashville Predators.#LGRW pic.twitter.com/NvcvvOtIBb
— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) March 24, 2024
While the Red Wings ultimately fell short on the scoreboard, Seider’s willingness to stand up for himself and his teammates did not go unnoticed. His teammates and coaches praised his courage and the energy he brought to the bench.
“Mo is a competitor,” said head coach Derek Lalonde. “He’s not afraid to mix it up and play with an edge. That’s what makes him such a valuable player for us.”
Red Wings goaltender Alex Lyon, who made 32 saves in the loss, commended Seider’s efforts, saying, “Good fight, too. Obviously, those are two guys who don’t see doing that very often. When they do it… and it was intense, too. A lot of respect for Mo for grinding like that.”
Fighting is also relatively foreign to Nashville’s Forsberg, who hadn’t dropped the mitts in four years. According to Hockey Fights, Forsberg had two previous fights. They were against St. Louis’ Brayden Schenn in 2020 and Vancouver’s Jake Virtanen in 2016.
The fight between Seider and Forsberg was reminiscent of another recent bout featuring unlikely combatants when the two teams met in Detroit this past December.
In that game, Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat fought Predators defenseman Roman Josi, the 2021-22 Norris Trophy winner, en route to completing a Gordie Howe hat trick in a 5-4 overtime victory for Detroit.
Seider turned heads in his rookie season with his impressive two-way play, earning him the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie. He became just the second German-born player to win the award, following in the footsteps of former Red Wing goaltender Roger Crozier in 1964-65.
The Red Wings are currently clinging to a one-point lead over the Washington Capitals for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot. Seider’s emergence as a leader both on and off the ice could be the spark the team needs to secure a long-awaited return to the playoffs.
As the regular season winds down, all eyes will be on Seider and the Wings as they fight to keep their postseason dreams alive.