Detroit Red Wings: Lucas Raymond continues to dazzle in rookie season

When the Detroit Red Wings made the decision to keep forward Lucas Raymond with the club coming out of training camp, not many were surprised. Raymond made comments immediately after, acknowledging that he would need to perform well to maintain his spot.

Through the Detroit Red Wings’ first ten games and beyond, Raymond has done a great job of earning his spot and proving he belongs. Through 13 games, Raymond is the first player to reach 15 points on the season.

Raymond has six goals and eight assists for his 15 tallies on the year. It’s an excellent start for the rookie out of Sweden who has looked mighty comfortable with the NHL game. He has not looked “out of place” or unable to keep up with the pace; he fits and has done a great job adjusting.

While this may be a power-play goal, so there is a lot more open ice to work with, look at the quick release. Raymond does a good job moving it round to get the Bruins penalty kill moving, and then he glides into an open lane to set up for the one-timer. It’s a beautiful goal.

Detroit Red Wings rookie Lucas Raymond continues to dazzle.

Raymond is not going to always be the silky hand, quick-moving, split the defense for a breakaway player. He’s got exceptional hands, but he tends to be more quick-moving in the sense that he’s making plays.

Being someone the Red Wings can count on to set up others and find the right opportunities to let his shot rip will only help him become an integral part of this team. The Red Wings have so much to look forward to in this team, and Raymond’s success is one of these things.

He’s a former fourth-overall pick who is performing at a pace that has him 100% included in the Calder Trophy conversation as it stands now.  Raymond’s comfortability on the ice has been easily seen, and it looks like he’s going to continue to exhibit these qualities as he develops even more.

The Red Wings got a good one with Raymond, and the fans should be excited to watch him continue progressing and developing into one of this team’s studs. As the 2021-22 season continues, look for him to continue to settle in and keep making some dazzling plays.

A playmaking forward who knows how to make things happen is exactly what this Red Wings team needs, and it’s going to be a bright future with Raymond around this team.