Steve Yzerman made a crucial decision that will have a major impact on Detroit's future

Moritz Seider and the Detroit Red Wings just got a reminder of how good this contract actually is, and it came from Colorado this weekend.

Cale Makar became the first player in league history to sign for more than $20 million a season, agreeing to an eight-year, $163,200,000 extension worth $20,400,000 annually starting in 2027.

That number makes Seider's deal look like an outright steal by comparison.

Seider just posted career highs in goals, assists, points, and ice time, finishing with 60 points on 10 goals and 50 assists across 82 games without missing a single one.

He finished 5th in Norris Trophy voting and 11th for the Hart Trophy, real recognition for a defenseman who'll never match Makar's offensive flash but plays every bit as effectively.

Seider signed his current deal in September 2024, a seven-year, $59,850,000 contract carrying an $8,550,000 cap hit.

There are 21 NHL defensemen with a higher cap hit than Seider right now, a list that includes Makar, Rasmus Dahlin, Evan Bouchard, and Roman Josi.

Why Detroit's next GM inherits one of the league's best bargains

Seider was former GM Steve Yzerman's very first draft selection back in 2019, and he went on to win the Calder Trophy as top rookie in 2021-22.

Yzerman's exit came after seven straight seasons without a playoff appearance, a real stain on his tenure that's fair to point out.

But this specific contract stands as one of the better value pieces he leaves behind for whoever takes over as general manager.

Detroit's next GM inherits a captain who wants out, a search that's dragged all summer, and at least one genuinely team-friendly deal already locked in.

Is Seider's bargain enough to offset everything else going wrong in Detroit right now? Not by itself, but it's a real building block.

Whoever eventually runs this front office will have Seider's contract as a legitimate reason for optimism amid all the other noise.

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