Moritz Seider tweaked his game and became a better player, let's look at why

The defenseman got more physical, found an ideal fit with Jake Walman, and probably got a bit unlucky with his counting stats.

At this time next year, Moritz Seider doesn’t want to be assessing his season.

He wants to be prepping for a playoff series, answering questions about an Eastern Conference opponent. As much as he enjoys representing his country, he doesn’t want to be having to decide whether it’s the right decision to play in the IIHF World Championships or not.

“Hopefully, a better conversation next season,” Seider said. “I’m ready for that, I want that, I want to be in the playoffs here.”

The rebuild in Detroit is taking time, in Steve Yzerman’s own terms, it’s gone, “just ok,” thus far. Fans are being patient, Yzerman is being patient, and head coach Derek Lalonde is being patient. But players naturally want to win, Seider has never played a North American playoff game, he wants to play games with Detroit that really matter.

Seider’s growth is going to be one of the factors that help determine whether playoff hockey arrives quickly or not in Detroit.

Playoff hockey teams, and particularly ones that have a chance to win big games, are built around key pillars, including the minute-munching defenseman that also turns the ice in his team’s favor for almost half the game.

Seider was drafted to be that guy, he believes he can be that guy, and I’ve talked to scouts around the league who are still high on him reaching that status.