Raymond’s continued growth with Red Wings defined by consistency, competitive fire

DETROIT -- Already reaching the 60-point mark for the third consecutive season, Lucas Raymond has become one of the Detroit Red Wings’ most consistent offensive forces ever since they selected him at No. 4 overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

That nightly production is a point of pride for Raymond, one he consciously works to sustain throughout the marathon that is an 82-game slate.

“It’s a lot of games, so to score a lot of points and be an offensive guy in this League, you got to be consistent,” Raymond told DetroitRedWings.com last week. “It’s one thing that I try to have an emphasis on. Some nights you have it and some nights you don’t, but you need to find ways to contribute.”

Since making his NHL debut to open the 2021-22 campaign, Raymond has collected 314 points on 117 goals and 197 assists in 376 games. Through 56 contests this season, which has also been his first as a full-time alternate captain with the Red Wings, Raymond leads them in assists (41), points (60) and power-play points (22).

“I like my all-around game a bit more this season,” Raymond said. “Obviously, as you play more years and get more comfortable in this League, you figure out your game. You learn more about what to do to be successful on a consistent basis. I think the biggest thing is 5-on-5 this year. I think I’ve gotten a lot more 5-on-5 scoring, which is good.”

Raymond’s understanding of the game and his dressing-room presence have also been big parts of Detroit’s success in its Centennial season.

“He’s wearing an ‘A’ for a reason,” Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan said of Raymond. “He has enough experience now, both good and bad, in a Red Wings jersey to be able to figure things, moments and the team’s heartbeat out. He’s done a pretty good job of that, but then his game on the ice comes into play…We’ve been encouraging him to shoot a little bit more. I think we need to see that after the [NHL’s Olympic] break, but he’s doing a terrific job of setting up his teammates and them capitalizing. We’ll expect a lot from him when he gets back.”

Raymond tends to lead by example, McLellan said, but the native of Gothenburg, Sweden, is also an emotional competitor.

“Sometimes, we have to harness that too,” McLellan said. “He can get frustrated and it can affect him and others, but it also drives the team sometimes. There’s a good balance of a little bit of everything from the Cs and As, but the auxiliary guys that are supporting side-by-side, if you will.”

Still only 23, Raymond enjoys the responsibility of being counted on as a leader.

“It’s an honor,” Raymond said of being an alternate captain. “You take a lot of pride in it. With our team, we have so many leaders both with older guys and guys that are still early in their careers as well, which is a good mix. It’s very easy on this team to lead and do that in your own way. I think that’s probably one of our biggest strengths -- everyone can lead in their own way. Guys don’t have to go out of their own way to do something that they’re not comfortable with.”

Starting this week, Raymond will bring all his skills to the world stage when he represents Team Sweden at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. For the full schedule of everything that’s going on in Italy this month, click here.

“It’s going to be an awesome experience and it’s an honor to represent your country on a stage like that,” said Raymond, whose 60 points are also the most of any Swedish skater going into the NHL’s extended hiatus. “This entire season, how many games we’ve played and how tight the schedule is, maintaining my mind and body has been key. It’s going to be even more important to do that coming back from the Olympics with the time difference and everything that comes with playing more games, but I feel good. My head is in a good spot, so I’m just trying to keep it that way.”