Once again, it was another news-filled day on Thursday.
A young stud defenceman re-signed with his team, while a 2024 Stanley Cup Champion has called it a career. The Anaheim Ducks have a new captain, and the Vegas Golden Knights are reviewing their options.
Let’s dig into all of that in the latest NHL Notebook!

Moritz Seider agrees to a seven-year deal with the Wings

On Thursday afternoon, Moritz Seider and the Detroit Red Wings agreed to a seven-year, $59.85 million deal that comes with an annual cap hit of $8.55 million.
Seider was selected sixth-overall in the 2019 draft by the Wings, and is a part of the German Golden Age of hockey. His rookie season was his career-best year, as he scored seven goals an 50 points in 82 games. Last season, he scored a career-high nine goals and 42 points, matching his 2022-23 season in the latter category.
The right-shot defenceman was often deployed against elite competition, playing 46.4% of his ice time (or 625.4 minutes) against those considered elite. He ranked first in both categories.
At just 23 years old, Seider hasn’t even begun to peak as the Red Wings look to enter their competitive window over the next few seasons.

Kyle Okposo retired

From one player who just started his career, to a player who is at the end of a lengthy career, it was announced on Thursday that Kyle Okposo will be hanging up his skates.
Okposo was selected seventh overall in the 2006 draft by the New York Islanders. The forward spent nine seasons with his draft team, scoring 139 goals and 369 points in 529 games before eventually signing with the Buffalo Sabres. 
The St. Paul, Minnesota native spent eight seasons with the Sabres, scoring 103 goals and 245 points in 516 games, being named their captain to begin the 2022-23 season. Prior to the 2024 trade deadline, he was traded to the Florida Panthers, the Stanley Cup champions from last season. Overall, Okposo scored 242 goals and 614 points in 1051 regular season games, along with seven goals and 17 points in 41 postseason games.

Radko Gudas named as the Ducks’ captain

Speaking of captains and former Florida Panther players, the Anaheim Ducks have a new captain, as Radko Gudas was named the ninth captain in franchise history on Thursday.
Gudas was selected in the third round of the 2010 draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. The right-shot defenceman, who usually plays in a shutdown role, played three seasons there before he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers.
After the trade, Gudas spent five seasons with the Flyers, before being traded to their division rivals, the Washington Capitals. He only spent one season with the Capitals (alongside Tom Wilson, that must’ve been fun) where he scored two goals and 15 points in 63 games.
Gudas stuck around in the Eastern Conference when his contract was up, signing a three-year deal with the Florida Panthers. In those three years, he helped win the Presidents’ Trophy in 2021-22 and went to the Stanley Cup Final in 2023. After his deal was up, Gudas signed with the Anaheim Ducks.

Robin Lehner failed to show up for the team’s pre-season medical exam

Sticking with a Pacific Division team, Robin Lehner failed to show up for his pre-season medical exam, leaving the Vegas Golden Knights exploring options for what to do.
Lehner was selected in the second round of the 2009 draft by the Ottawa Senators. After several seasons as a backup netminder, Lehner broke out in 2016-17 with the Sabres, posting a .920 save percentage and a 2.68 goals-against average. 
His 2017-18 season was solid, but his play dipped before returning to form in 2018-19 with the New York Islanders, where he had a .930 save percentage and a 2.13 goals-against average. Lehner finished third in Vezina Trophy voting that season while winning the William M. Jennings Trophy and Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
After signing a one-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, Lehner was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights prior to the 2020 trade deadline. He signed an extension after the season ended, most recently playing 44 games in 2021-22 with a .907 save percentage and a 2.83 goals-against average.
However, Lehner underwent hip surgery in the 2022 off-season, missing all of 2022-23 and 2023-24 while being considered out indefinitely. 
Lehner’s alcohol abuse has been well documented, but he overcame that and has been sober since 2018, in turn playing well enough to earn the five-year, $25 million deal. While he may or may not ever play again, it’s important to remember that Lehner is a human being.
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