Detroit Red Wings: Lucas Raymond puts himself in a position to compete

The Detroit Red Wings have officially kicked things off in their preseason bouts as the calendar turns to October. The team will be off and running soon, but they are still ironing out the details of their roster.

One of the more surprising moves from the Detroit Red Wings could be seeing former fourth overall pick Lucas Raymond earn a roster spot. According to an article on the Red Wings website, it seems that Raymond is turning some heads and looks like he could possibly join the club out of camp and the preseason.

Training camp was strong for Raymond as the team is not moving into the preseason and continues through it as the regular season approaches. Head Coach Jeff Blashill does well with young talent, so giving him a chance to get his feet wet may not be all that horrible.

However, the Red Wings may be cautious with him and keep him with the Grand Rapids Griffins to start off the 2021-22 season.  It would not be shocking and certainly would not be a frowned-upon move, but the opportunity for Raymond to don the red and white sweater on opening night is definitely there.

Detroit Red Wings prospect Lucas Raymond could earn a roster spot.

The likelihood of him playing in the NHL at some point during the 2021-22 season is not crazy whatsoever; in fact, it should be expected. The less expected and shocking part would be if he made the club out of training camp.

This is his first time playing in the North American game after spending the rest of his young career over in Sweden, working through the ranks and eventually playing in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).

Last season, Raymond logged 34 games where he had six goals and 12 assists for 18 points before he had to head to the injured reserve with an arm injury that required surgery. The good news is that many of his Red Wings teammates in training camp have said that Raymond is still a great puck-mover and has a rapid-release shot.

There’s plenty of excitement around the former fourth overall pick from the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, but the question is when his talent will arrive in the NHL. If he continues to play well, he may be able to make the team out of training camp and surprise some people.

As the preseason continues, look for Raymond to prove he belongs and prove he can jump into the lineup and be an impact player for the team in 2021-22.