Unresolved insurance issues
Germany will have to do without star defenders at the World Cup
May 3, 2024, 3:50 p.m
Vice world champion Germany has to do without top NHL defender Moritz Seider at the Ice Hockey World Cup in the Czech Republic. In return, national coach Harold Kreis is receiving further reinforcements from North America: Maksymilian Szuber from the Arizona Coyotes is set to join the team on Sunday.
Vice world champion Germany is going to the Ice Hockey World Cup in the Czech Republic without NHL star Moritz Seider. As expected, the best German defender, one of the top performers in last year’s silver coup, will not join national coach Harold Kreis’ team due to unresolved insurance issues. NHL debutant Maksymilian Szuber, on the other hand, is expected to join the national team on Sunday.
“We tried together to take all insurance eventualities into account and clarify them. Ultimately, however, we had to realize that this was not completely possible,” said DEB sports director Christian Künast a week before the World Cup opener on May 10th in Ostrava against the Slovakia.
The 23-year-old Seider has not yet negotiated a new contract with the Detroit Red Wings. The highly talented defender, drafted sixth in 2019, is expected to reach at least the dimensions of Leon Draisaitl and Tim Stützle, who have eight-year contracts worth more than $60 million. This would mean a six-figure insurance premium would be due for the DEB.
Seider made a significant contribution to the sensational final in Tampere. It was already his fourth A World Championships. After the NHL main round, he basically declared his willingness: “If we can clarify the insurance issues, I would be more than happy to play.”
Only the 21-year-old Szuber, who made his debut with the Arizona Coyotes, is expanding the NHL faction in the DEB team. The attackers Nico Sturm (San Jose Sharks) and John-Jason Peterka (Buffalo Sabres) as well as goalkeeper Philipp Grubauer (Seattle Kraken) are already part of the team for the penultimate World Cup test on Saturday (2 p.m./MagentaSport) in Wolfsburg against France. Szuber, like Sturm and Peterka vice world champion, will join on Sunday and will therefore be available to Kreis for the dress rehearsal on Monday (7.30 p.m./MagentaSport) against France.