Moritz Seider, the Detroit Red Wings' top pick in the 2019 draft, has decided not to play in this year’s World Junior Championship.
Seider, 19, was Germany’s captain at last year’s event, when he tallied six assists in seven games. This year’s WJC will be in Edmonton from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5.
Red Wings assistant general manager Ryan Martin said the club supports Seider’s decision.
“We left it up to the player,” Martin said. “He has made the decision that he would like to continue playing with Rogle (in the Swedish Hockey League) as opposed to the World Juniors. We would have been supportive of whatever he wanted to do.”
Seider weighed several factors, including the travel, having to spend time in a bubble and having to miss several games in Sweden.
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Red Wings’ top prospect Moritz Seider to skip World Juniors