Detroit defenseman Moritz Seider will not suit up for Germany at IIHF Worlds because of insurance issues stemming from his status as a free agent
If and when Germany does get the chance to compete at a major international men's best-on-best hockey tournament again, Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider will likely have a starring role to play.
Apr 9, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider (53) skates in the first period against the Washington Capitals at Little Caesars ArenaHowever, at this spring's IIHF World Championship in Czechia, the Germans will have to make do without their star defenseman, who will not be able to participate due to insurance issues.
“We have been in close contact with the Detroit Red Wings and Moritz since the end of the NHL main round,” Christian Kunast, sports director of the German Ice Hockey Federation told deb-online.de. “He emphasized that he would like to play for the national team again this year...At the same time, his special contractual situation, which affects his sporting future, is known.”
To put that in plainer English, because Seider is a restricted free agent this summer (and is thus not currently under contract), the German federation and player could not arrive at an insurance policy that allowed Seider to participate.
Seider himself spoke to his desire to play as well as the realistic need for caution at his end-of-season press availability, when he said, “I think you gotta be smart and have some responsibility, not risk anything. The last thing you want to do is go out of that injured when you don’t have a contract for next year.”
For what's its worth, Seider's Red Wing teammate and fellow RFA Lucas Raymond did manage to find a way to overcome similar insurance conundrums to represent Sweden at this year's Worlds. However, Seider and Germany could not find a way around those hurdles.