Lucas Raymond Poised for Bigger Breakout

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Mar 19, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings left wing Lucas Raymond (23) controls the puck against Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans (71) during the first period at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-Imagn Images

One of the best things to come out of the Steve Yzerman era has, without doubt, been winger Lucas Raymond, and the national media is taking note. The now 24-year-old was one of the youngest players on the NHL Network’s most recent Top 20 wingers list.

Seeing Raymond amongst names like Brady Tkachuk, Clayton Keller, and the other top names in the NHL has shown how the young Swede has quietly proven himself as a star in the league. Even on a Red Wings team that hasn’t found the postseason since before he was drafted.

Now, with the Red Wings offense having undergone significant upheaval, Raymond has the opportunity to take some big steps towards climbing past spot 20 of 20 on the list.

By the numbers​

In his age 23 season last year Raymond largely continued on the path that he had set up for himself through the previous four years in the league. After reaching 80 points in the 2024-25 season, the first Red Wing to do so since Henrik Zetterberg, expectations were high for Raymond.

While he performed at close to the same level as he had the previous year, his numbers did dip down to 76 points. He had two fewer goals and two fewer assists than the year before, and he still hasn’t scored 30+ goals since the 2023-24 campaign.

No. 23 also found himself missing a pair of games due to an upper body injury early in the season. That injury seemed to have an effect on Raymond even in the later months of the year, frustrating fans and coach Todd McLellan at times as he seemed gun shy with the puck on his stick.

However, while Raymond’s actual offensive output dropped, his underlying numbers stayed at a solid level. Raymond’s shooting percentage by the end of the season sat at 14.5%, better than the Red Wings’ leading scorer, Alex DeBrincat’s, at 14.2%. Though, Raymond’s xGF% and GF% sit below DeBrincat’s, at 48.81% and 49.49% respectively according to Statpede.

Cut one head…​

Speaking of DeBrincat, while the Cat has gained notoriety as the first Red Wings forward to cross the 40 goal mark since Marian Hossa, he’s done so while playing primarily on the second line. With Patrick Kane’s departure, Detroit has no reason not to bump their leading 5-on-5 goal scorer up to the top line with Raymond and Dylan Larkin.

Of course, with Larkin with one foot out the door, the Red Wings should be looking to direct more of their scoring attack through players they’re certain will be there by the end of the season, assuming Larkin even plays to start the season.

Raymond has averaged 25+ goals over the last three years, and for the last two of those years, the player on the opposite wing from him has been a rookie. Even if DeBrincat isn’t the player on the right wing, the Red Wings signed Viktor Arvidsson this offseason for their top six. Arvidsson had 54 total points and 25 goals last year, would’ve tied him with Raymond for third on the Red Wings roster last year.

Taking that next step as a scoring threat will mean a lot more than it did last year as the Red Wings stare down the barrel of a new top center.

The post Lucas Raymond Poised for Bigger Breakout appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

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