{"id":64235,"date":"2025-08-12T15:07:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-12T15:07:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/64235\/"},"modified":"2025-08-12T15:07:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T15:07:09","slug":"red-wings-lucas-raymond-could-be-the-nhls-next-superstar-the-hockey-writers-detroit-red-wings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/64235\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Wings’ Lucas Raymond Could Be the NHL’s Next Superstar – The Hockey Writers – Detroit Red Wings"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Lucas Raymond<\/a> first stepped onto NHL ice in 2021, the buzz was immediate. Drafted fourth overall in 2020<\/a>, the Swedish winger arrived with a skillset that screamed potential, elite vision, high-end playmaking, and an on-ice maturity that belied his age. His rookie campaign didn\u2019t just meet expectations, it smashed them: 23 goals, 57 points, and a key role on the Detroit Red Wings\u2019 top line. He was dynamic, confident, and a constant offensive threat.<\/p>\n

But one season does not make a career. The NHL adjusts quickly, and year two was proof of that. Teams knew his tendencies, defensive matchups tightened, and the physical grind of an 82-game schedule hit harder. While his sophomore numbers weren\u2019t a disaster, they weren\u2019t the massive leap some hoped for. Critics wondered if Raymond\u2019s ceiling was as high as advertised.<\/p>\n

Related: Is John Gibson the Solution to the Red Wings\u2019 Goaltending Problems?<\/a><\/p>\n

Fast forward to the 2024\u201325 season, and those doubts are starting to fade. Raymond isn\u2019t just producing points again; he\u2019s doing it in ways that suggest a transformation from promising young winger into a legitimate NHL star. The question now isn\u2019t whether he\u2019s \u201cgood enough\u201d for the Red Wings\u2019 future. It\u2019s whether he\u2019s the kind of game-changer Detroit has been waiting for.<\/p>\n

Creating Offense in New Ways<\/p>\n

Early in his career, much of Raymond\u2019s offense came from playing off Dylan Larkin\u2019s<\/a> speed and energy. He was an excellent complementary piece, finding soft spots in coverage and finishing plays. Now, he\u2019s creating his offense by carrying the puck through the neutral zone with purpose, attacking defenders one-on-one, and generating scoring chances without relying solely on his linemates.<\/p>\n

His passing game remains elite. He can thread a puck through traffic or find a teammate in a dangerous area with a single, no-look feed. However, what has elevated his game is his improved shot. His release is quicker, his mechanics are cleaner, and he\u2019s shooting from more deceptive angles. Defenders can\u2019t just shade toward the pass anymore; he\u2019s a threat to score himself every time the puck\u2019s on his stick.<\/p>\n

This evolution means he\u2019s becoming far more difficult to defend. Opponents can\u2019t simply take away one option and neutralize him. The more he diversifies his attack, the more dangerous he becomes.<\/p>\n

The Two-Way Transformation<\/p>\n

While Raymond\u2019s offense draws the headlines, his defensive game might be his most underrated development. He\u2019s become a more engaged backchecker, consistently applying pressure and breaking up plays in the neutral zone. He reads passing lanes like a veteran, intercepting pucks and turning defense into instant offense.<\/p>\n

\"LucasLucas Raymond, Detroit Red Wings (Evan Sabourin \/ The Hockey Writers)<\/p>\n

Todd McLellan\u2019s system emphasizes structure and responsibility without stifling creativity. That\u2019s been a perfect fit for Raymond\u2019s growth. He\u2019s being trusted in situations where he\u2019s not just expected to score but to protect a lead, kill penalties, and match up against top lines. That\u2019s a sign of real trust from the coaching staff, and it\u2019s not given lightly.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the kind of all-around game you see from players who win Selke Trophy votes down the road, and it\u2019s making him a true impact player in all three zones.<\/p>\n

Growing Into a Leader<\/p>\n

Leadership in the NHL comes in many forms. Some players lead with their voice, others with their habits. Raymond is doing both. He\u2019s speaking up more in the locker room, showing younger players how to prepare, and putting in extra work before and after practice.<\/p>\n

Detroit\u2019s rebuild is built on young cornerstone players Marco Kasper, Moritz Seider, and Raymond, and with that comes the expectation to lead. Raymond is embracing it. He\u2019s not the quiet rookie anymore. He\u2019s becoming someone the team looks to when the game\u2019s on the line.<\/p>\n

Why This Matters for Detroit<\/p>\n

The Red Wings have spent years stockpiling prospects, developing talent, and slowly climbing back toward contention. They have their captain in Dylan Larkin, their defensive anchor in Moritz Seider<\/a>, and a growing group of supporting stars. But to win in today\u2019s NHL, you need elite wingers who can change games, players who force opposing coaches to adjust their matchups, who can swing momentum with a single shift.<\/p>\n

If Raymond continues his current trajectory, he could be that player. His offense is trending upward, his two-way game is strong, and his leadership presence is growing. That combination is rare. It\u2019s the blueprint for a franchise winger, and potentially, a superstar.<\/p>\n

The Road Ahead<\/p>\n

Superstardom in the NHL isn\u2019t given; it\u2019s earned over multiple seasons of consistency, production, and impact. Raymond still has steps to take. He needs to continue building strength, add layers to his offensive game, and prove he can dominate over a full 82-game schedule and into the playoffs.<\/p>\n

But all the tools are there. The skill. The hockey IQ. The drive to be better every year. And now, the experience of knowing how to use them.<\/p>\n

If this season is any indication, Raymond isn\u2019t just a key piece of the Red Wings\u2019 rebuild. He\u2019s on the verge of becoming one of the league\u2019s premier forwards.<\/p>\n

And if that happens, Detroit\u2019s path back to the top might be shorter than anyone expected.<\/p>\n

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<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When Lucas Raymond first stepped onto NHL ice in 2021, the buzz was immediate. Drafted fourth overall in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":64236,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[433],"tags":[49,48,41214,448,82,38571],"class_list":["post-64235","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nhl","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-lucas-raymond","tag-nhl","tag-sports","tag-steve-yzerman"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64235","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64235"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64235\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64236"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64235"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64235"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}