Detroit Red Wings: Lucas Raymond snubbed of Calder Trophy nomination

While the Detroit Red Wings 2021-22 season is over, the award season is just beginning around the hockey world. It was defenseman Moritz Seider who earned himself a Calder Trophy finalist nomination.

On the other hand, Detroit Red Wings prospect Lucas Raymond did not get nominated for the award. It’s a tough scene for the Red Wings youngster. He’s proved that he can hang in the professional ranks and had an exceptional season for the Red Wings.

But instead of getting his chance to fight for the Rookie of the Year award, he has to cheer on Seider instead. While it’s great that one of the Red Wings youngsters made it, Raymond should have been a finalist as well.

Anaheim’s  Trevor Zegras and Toronto’s Michael Bunting were also put up for nomination for the award. Zegras’ flashy plays throughout the season are likely going to sway the vote and screw over Seider, but Raymond did not even get the chance.

Detroit Red Wings’ Lucas Raymond was snubbed from Calder nomination.

It was an exceptional performance in the Red Wings’ first season with the youngsters. Raymond showed that he belonged after surprising Red Wings fans and breaking training camp with the team.

Raymond would play in all 82 games for the Red Wings throughout the season, where he logged 23 goals and 34 assists for a total of 57 points on the year. It was exciting to watch the Swedish youngster be a playmaking machine and indeed come into his own.

Even in his first season, he looked comfortable out on the ice and did not take long to show some of the ranted and raved-about skills when he was drafted. Looking at the Calder Trophy nominees, it sucks to see Raymond getting snubbed of the recognition while Seider is getting that recognition.

Both rookies played exceptionally well, but Raymond’s performance will fall beneath the cracks when it comes to the Calder Trophy honors. It was a phenomenal rookie campaign, and the Red Wings can only be hoping that Raymond can do it again in his sophomore season.

While he may not be getting a call about the Calder Trophy, he can cheer on his buddy as he hopes to sway the vote away from Zegras, the player who’s easily the favorite to take home the honors.

Fans will likely agree; it’s great to see Seider get some praise, but Raymond was just as deserving of the praise.