The Detroit Red Wings may have found the superstar they desperately needed in right-winger Lucas Raymond. The Gothenburg, Sweden native was drafted by the Red Wings with the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. Alexis Lafrenière was the presumed number one overall pick the entire season before the draft. Lafrenière would be drafted by the New York Rangers number one overall. The question is whether Raymond can lead the Red Wings to their first Stanley Cup playoff appearance in eight seasons. Keep in mind that Raymond is only 22 years old.
Playing in 60 fewer games throughout their careers, Raymond has scored only three fewer goals and added 38 fewer assists in his career. Perhaps Lafrenière has not lived up to his potential yet. The more intriguing thought for Red Wings fans is that Raymond may not have hit his prime yet either. Raymond had 23 points from December 27th to January 27th. This was tied for the second most in the NHL in that timespan with Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers and Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov. David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins had one more point than this group in this timespan.
Raymond, along with defenseman Moritz Seider, signed long-term contracts with the Red Wings prior to the 2024-25 NHL season beginning. These two players will be the cornerstones of the Red Wings franchise moving forward. While Seider won the Calder Trophy as the Rookie of the Year in 2022, Raymond has not seen the national recognition of the hockey world, at least not yet. However, Raymond’s recent play may change that.
Raymond had four points in a recent game against the Los Angeles Kings. In the 50 games played for the Red Wings this season Raymond has 20 goals scored and 36 assists. In the last five games Raymond has scored one goal and added five assists. Raymond is scoring at a 92-point pace this season. He would be the first Red Wings player to have 90 points in a season since Pavel Datsyuk in the 2008-09 season. “I said one day he reminds me a little of (Henrik) Zetterberg,” head coach Todd McLellan said recently.
Zetterberg is one of the 37 captains in the history of the Red Wings’ franchise. After being forced to retire due to a back injury, the Red Wings went without a captain until Dylan Larkin was named captain of the Red Wings in January of 2021. Originally known as an offensive forward, Zetterberg would eventually develop a 200-foot game. Raymond has yet to develop the defensive aspect of his game, but this kind of thing takes time.
The Red Wings have four straight games at home going into the Four Nations Faceoff. The trip begins with games against the Oilers and Calgary Flames. These are two of the best teams in the league by record. The Oilers currently have the second-best record in the conference, with 35 wins, 14 losses, and three overtime losses. That they have both Connor McDavid and Draisaitl, the best player in the NHL and one of the five best players in the league respectively, is one of the main reasons for this.
Lucas Raymond is one of two Red Wings who will represent team Sweden at the upcoming Four Nations Faceoff beginning on February 12th, along with the captain of the Red Wings, Larkin, who will represent the United States of America. Sweden and the United States are seen as two of the favorites to win the Four Nations Faceoff. “Obviously excited,” Raymond said. “Any time you get the chance to represent your country and play in a tournament like that, it’s always a lot of fun.”
ITR 39: Conference Finals – Inside The Rink
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