Red Wings sign Moritz Seider to 7-year, $60 million contract

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings made another investment in a young star player this week, signing Moritz Seider to a seven-year contract worth nearly $60 million.

The Red Wings announced the trade of the 23-year-old German defenseman on Thursday, three days after retaining 22-year-old forward Lucas Raymond on an eight-year, $64.6 million contract.

Detroit drafted Seider with the sixth overall pick eight years ago and he has proven to be a great pick. He has 134 career points, the most by a defenseman drafted in 2019.

He was the only NHL player to record at least 200 hits and block more than 200 shots last season, scoring a career-high nine goals and collecting 42 points for the second straight year.

Seider won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie in 2022 after scoring a career-high 50 points.

Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is counting on Seider, whose contract will count for $8.55 million per year against the salary cap, and Raymond to turn a rebuilding team into a winning one.

Detroit has failed to make the playoffs for eight consecutive seasons, the longest postseason drought in franchise history.

The Red Wings, who won four Stanley Cups from 1997 to 2008, have struggled since their 25-game playoff streak ended in 2016.

Detroit was 41-32-9 last season and finished with a winning record for the first time since its last playoff appearance.

Yzerman re-signed Patrick Kane last summer and signed a handful of free agents, including Vladimir Tarasenko to a two-year, $9.5 million deal after helping the Florida Panthers win the Cup.

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NHL AP: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl