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Detroit Red Wings stars Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider, aren’t receiving roses. Contrary to blink-182’s recommendations, their leaders are not staying together for the kids.
Spin the narrative however you wish, but they are two huge losers in this divorce between soon-to-be-former captain Dylan Larkin and former general manager Steve Yzerman.
For fans, it’s a roller coaster of emotions. We have gone through so much together. Yet, only more uncertainty remains.
No pages turned, no new albums to listen to. We’re just sitting here waiting for…anything to hang on to.
Larkin's career start similar to Raymond, Seider
While players like Alex DeBrincat, Justin Faulk, John Gibson and Andrew Copp have a bit more flexibility moving forward, Raymond and Seider are a bit different.
In some way, they’re not facing something too dissimilar to Larkin when he started with the Red Wings. He lost his on-ice leaders. The franchise’s cornerstones - Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall - passed him the torch. The hope was that Larkin was the young player who could add to an existing core.
In reality, he was the only sturdy post in the entire foundation. There were other players that helped Larkin acclimate to the NHL, but none had a lasting impact on the Red Wings team.
His best buddies were all ripped away. Some clearly wanted (and needed) to change sceneries. Other departures came as unwelcome surprises, and it seemingly downward spiraled from there. Despite all his perseverance and dedication to his team, his legacy in Detroit is tarnished.
Now, when we sing “Don’t Stop Believin'’” instead of looking to our Michigan-born captain, we shall look upon a young man born and raised in Germany and his Swedish twin.
A shocker of a sixth overall pick in the 2019 (who as surprisingly finished in the top-five of Norris voting just four seasons into his tenure) and the fourth overall selection in the 2020 NHL Entry Level Drafts are the hinges in Hockeytown’s success.
Quite frankly, the path seems more mysterious than Larkin’s.
For better or worse, it's up to Seider and Raymond to lead their team
The next few seasons won’t be easy. With (hopefully) an influx of young talent there will be hiccups. With the new blood, most growth has to come from inside the system. Guys will have pull an Emmitt Finnie and outperform public scouts and fans’ expectations.
It’s what Grand Rapids Griffins and Toledo Walleye fans have boasted for ages. It all depends on how the youth is integrated and performs. (It’s a push and pull, providing opportunities without throwing young players in the deep end whenever possible.)
A look at Raymond's next season
Raymond had a taste of being a leader as an alternate captain last season and at the IIIHF Men’s World Championships. His line mates included two yet-to-be-drafted top-nine prospects like Ivar Stenberg and Viggo Bjorck. Growing up as the younger brother who always played with older kids (and then against men in the SHL from a young age), Raymond finally dipped his toes in the waters of leadership.
He seemed to enjoy it, as he was hitting, flying on the ice and looking as confident as ever. Yes, the bigger ice gave him more time and space. Yes, it’s a summer tournament. Stlll, there seemed to be a weight lifted off his shoulders.
Raymond could take that experience to help players as soon as training camp.
If the Wings hope to not take a step back, it’s in everybody’s best interest that he (and everyone else) do whatever they can to embrace their youth. They can't sigh about young picks or play the safe, slow approach the last administration took.
They have players like Michael Brandsegg-Nygård (who was nails in both the Griffins’ playoff run and in the World Championships—once he arrived), Carter Bear (who just is sooo much fun to watch, and hates losing more than he loves winning) and Anton Johansson who are poised to challenge for jobs (even if they’re penciled into the Griffins lineup).
Certainly, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, who is already familiar with new signee Viktor Arvidsson (they train together in the summer) is poised to take a big step this upcoming season—regardless of where he starts the season.
Seider's path prepared him for his new role
Seider has a bit of a different background to Raymond. With all due respect, Seider is a bit of an oddball.
From an under-scouted league to Norris consideration, Seider is a unicorn. He’s played in every world tournament he’s green lighted to play in for a team that is expected to lose (most) games. Despite all this, Seider takes it all on the chin.
As he shared in his end of season media availability, Seider allows the emotions to be felt. However, he doesn’t let the negativity fester. He chooses to learn from it.
Built a bit differently, Seider takes a different approach to his (expectedly) former captain Larkin:
“Obviously frustration is big. Rightfully so. I think, we’re once again close and kind of sit here and talk about the same stuff I feel like every year In the end, I think the answer is pretty simple. We just gotta be better as a team. As individuals and we gotta put in the work in the summer. Hopefully, everyone is thinking the same thing….Then, we can become a better hockey team. Hopefully, be in a fortunate situation next year to talk about the playoffs and finally getting in, not being in the same situation once again.”
In an offseason that went from business as usual to crazy, Seider is as prepared for the adversity as one could be (from a professional standpoint). Although behind the scenes is likely different, my expectation of Seider is that he will be the same stoic gentleman (who at times shows a flare of personality—something fans wished we would see more often).
Seider has made a positive impact throughout the hockey world. He’s the epitome of work your tail off and good things follow. Through his game play he’s already inspired countless prospects (both from Germany and across the world) and is often named as a defensemen prospects model their games after.
He’s already dragging teammates into the fight, like Simon Edvinsson. Edvinsson has spoken on countless occasions about how impressed he is with Seider’s dedication and dependability.
Red Wings fans just need to look ahead
So long as Seider keeps being Seider, the Red Wings are in great hands. Raymond adding some spice to the mix only improves the team dynamic.
Together, Raymond and Seider are as impressive as any young pair in the NHL. The duo possess something Larkin never had: agency.
No yellow brick road needs to be followed or Wizard of Oz needs to be found. They can set out on their own path.
Call them whatever you like: they are a dedicated partnership in the Motor City who have already grown into successful NHL players. Now, they can help lead, shape and grow their team to new heights -- and in the image that best suits them.
No longer are they restricted by leadership where guys may (or likely don’t) want to be here. They don't have to worry about a captain already plotting his next destination anymore. While we don’t get to hear from players on general managers all the time, both Raymond and Seider have only spoken about their love and dedication to the city (and it’s fans).
In this new era, they can just be themselves. In doing so, hopefully, they can encourage teammates and young prospects to do the same.
Raymond and Seider are disciplined enough, and now have the necessary track record, to push teammates (young and old) to be the best versions of themselves without their loyalty ever wavering.
Even though Seider and Raymond are the biggest losers this offseason, if they play their cards just right they can use these supposed setbacks into something worthwhile.
As The Emperor of China in Mulan (the 1998 edition) declares: “the flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all.”
Today's best reads
- What Steve Yzerman did right as general manager of the Red Wings
- The 3 best (and worst) moves of Steve Yzerman's tenure with the Red Wings
- The Red Wings should avoid committing to a re-rebuild
- How the Yzerplan fell short for the Red Wings
- Steve Yzerman left his Red Wings' successor a mess to clean up, starting with Dylan Larkin
This article was originally published on octopusthrower.com as The biggest losers in the Detroit Red Wings breakup saga.
