Detroit Red Wings: Lucas Raymond an option if organization fall to fourth

The Detroit Red Wings may be unlucky in the NHL Draft Lottery, and if they fall to fourth, forward Lucas Raymond is another viable option.

Since the 2020 NHL Draft Lottery remains questionable as to when it will take place, the Detroit Red Wings will have to wait to learn their fate. The Ottawa Senators pose a threat since they own the second and third-best odds when combined makes their odds for first pick higher than the Red Wings.

If the Red Wings end up in the worst-case scenario and fall to the fourth overall selection, try will have to sort through the high-end talents that cloud the top of the draft class. Lucas Raymond is one of those talents that should be considered if they fall to fourth.

Raymond is a Swedish product, an eighteen-year-old playing his hockey for Frölunda HC in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). The 5-foot-10, 165-pound forward plays as a winger with a right-handed shot. He comes in at fourth overall in most scouting rankings as it stands now.

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This past season with Frölunda HC, Raymond would score nine three goals and add 11 assists for 14 points over nine total games with the SuperElit level. He would only tally four goals and six assists with 10 points over 33 games at the SHL level.

Beyond that, Raymond played for the Swedish national team during the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championships. In seven games, Raymond would score two goals and add two assists for four points.

The scoring ability has not been as plentiful, but playing in one of the tougher leagues in the world, Raymond was showing he can play at a high-level even as a seventeen-year-old. One of the things about Raymond is that his tools are what define him in terms of his draft stock.

His abilities as a two-way forward are what make him unique, especially his ability to jump up on the forecheck. Raymond can put pressure on the opposition and make plays happen, forcing turnovers or forcing mistakes.

Raymond’s offensive upside comes in the form of passing and a beautiful wrist shot. He has been known to make some nifty passes in the offensive zone to create scoring chances. However, Raymond is not known to be a pass-first, using his wrist shot to get the puck on net.

The scouts also ranted and raved about Raymond’s abilities to stop on a dime to avoid hits, though he has a smaller frame he can shrug off hits. Even for a youngster, Raymond reads the play at a high-level and looks to make smart decisions with the puck.

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If the Detroit Red Wings do end up missing out on Alexis Lafrenière and fall to fourth overall, they need to give Lucas Raymond a look.

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