Red Wings 2022-23 Wrap-Up: Lucas Raymond

DETROIT – Lucas Raymond is just 21 years old, but the young Swedish forward has already accomplished a lot in the NHL since making the Detroit Red Wings’ 2021-22 Opening Night roster.

 And as Raymond continues his evolution as a player, he has set a simple goal for himself in 2023-24: make the most of every opportunity.

 “Experience is something you can only get by time,” Raymond said in his end-of-season media session. “I grew a lot (in 2022-23). You learn about yourself more and more, what you need to do to be prepared, what your body responds to, etc. It felt good. You try to find these things that help you get better and that only comes with time.”

Selected fourth overall by Detroit in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Raymond recorded 57 points (23-34—57) in 82 games in 2021-22 and followed that up with 45 points (17-28—45) in 74 games last season.

“I felt like my play was pretty consistent,” Raymond said about his second full NHL campaign. “But production could come in bunches sometimes. Of course I wanna be a consistent player. That’s something you wanna be. It’s just about figuring out what you need to do to be that and continue to grow.”

 After finishing as one of only three NHL rookies to play all 82 games two seasons ago, Raymond missed eight contests in 2022-23 because of a lower-body injury he sustained in mid-February.

The 5-foot-11, 176-pound forward said that playing though his “first injury in the NHL” was a learning experience.

“Obviously you’re eager to get back on the ice and help the guys, especially the position we were in,” Raymond said. “At the same time, it’s part of it - to learn how to overcome it. You’ll never feel 100 percent, so it’s just about doing what you can to try to play as good as possible every night.”

Experiencing highs and lows early in his career will only benefit Raymond as he aims for consistency moving forward, according to Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde.

“There’s growth for Lucas,” Lalonde said in April. “I’m not gonna call it regression, but I think there’s gonna be some bumps between your first two years in the NHL. The fact that he’s never seen the American Hockey League, he jumped right into the National Hockey League, I don’t think people respect how hard that is.”