Lucas Raymond

[Henkka]

Everybody remembers what this guy can do, if there is an important game like U18 Gold medal game...



Sweden was trailing in the 3rd, but this kid said NO.

Just like today.

 

[Gniwder]

That's a great observation about the difference in Raymond this season. So many guys in the NHL -- not just in the NHL but every job, and not just men but women -- are held back by self-imposed limits. They find a comfort zone and stay there. Trying to push beyond that is really hard, so they accept what they believe themselves to be as good enough. Or they make excuses, point blame. I wonder if Raymond might have made use of a sports psychologist at some point last off-season, or if this year was just the right time for something that was inevitable. For whatever reason, he is putting in the work and trying to be great. He is not intimidated by the competition and not afraid of big moments.

I'm pretty sure bulking up 15 lbs has something to do with it.

Not sure how much more weight he can put on his frame before it starts to slow down his skating.

 

[OldnotDeadWings]

I'm pretty sure bulking up 15 lbs has something to do with it.

Not sure how much more weight he can put on his frame before it starts to slow down his skating.

I'm sure it made a difference too. But that's also part of accepting the work you have to put in if you want to be the best you can be.. Adding 15 pounds in an off-season, without letting it affect you in other areas like skating, is not easy.

 

[Coach Reggie Dunlop]

People need to remember Raymond was injured for a couple stretches last year. Still was on pace for 50 points. It was a sophomore slump sure but not as bad as people made it out to be. He just has it though, something you can’t teach. And is a complete big game player.

 

[RRhoads]

43 points in 44 games since new years

 

[Gniwder]

I'm sure it made a difference too. But that's also part of accepting the work you have to put in if you want to be the best you can be.. Adding 15 pounds in an off-season, without letting it affect you in other areas like skating, is not easy.

Depends on where that weight is added. Have you looked at Pornstache's legs?

 

[OldnotDeadWings]

Depends on where that weight is added. Have you looked at Pornstache's legs?

I have a slow comp. It took forever to load that image, from the top down. It stopped loading after five minutes at waist height, but I'm sure they are massive legs.

You're not wrong about where weight goes, but Raymond looks more solid all over. That's beside the point though. We've all seen big guys, even guys with massive legs, play small. They don't use their size to any benefit. Or they get unbalanced and can't apply the extra strength. Or they just don't have it in them to play aggressively, or even with extra size they still get intimidated by the possibility of being crushed and try to protect themselves. As Soupguru said in his post, Raymond is just determined to not only play through all that stuff, he is inflicting his (new) strength on people. He's relentless in getting after it on the forecheck. He's pursuing the puck, but taking the body when it's there too. And he's not worried about getting hit, cutting into middle of the o-zone where he might get nailed. Going hard to the crease, etc. So yeah, I think the important point is the attitude, the body language that exudes confidence. Knowing he's stronger now obviously helps that, but it's still more of a mental change IMO than a physical change.

 

[Henkka]

43 points in 44 games since new years

10 points in last 5 games.

19 points in last 17 games.

Good kid. Really nice to see him doing these heart & soul goals, under desperate moments.

 

[Chelis Chili]

FIGHT FOR THE LAST WILD CARD SPOT CONTINUES INTO FINAL THREE DAYS OF SEASON
The Rush to the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs continued to electrify as the Capitals (39-31-11, 89 points), Red Wings (40-32-9, 89 points) and Penguins (38-31-12, 88 points) all earned wins – with Detroit’s coming in three-goal comeback fashion. This means the final Eastern Conference Wild Card spot will be determined in the final three days of the 2023-24 regular season.

* After posting 3-1—4 in a crucial game against the Penguins last week, Lucas Raymond (2-0—2) continued his heroics for the Red Wings as he scored the tying goal with 1:17 remaining in regulation and added the winner in the final 25 seconds of overtime to help Detroit (40-32-9, 89 points) keep its playoff hopes alive. Raymond joined Ray Sheppard (Nov. 12, 1991) as the second player in Red Wings history to score a game-tying goal in the final two minutes of regulation and the overtime winner in the same contest.

* The Red Wings, who trailed 4-1 more than half way through the contest, recorded their second three-goal comeback win in the past seven years – the only other instance came on Dec. 28, 2022 (5-4 OT W at PIT).

sauce: https://media.nhl.com/public/news/17922

 

[wings95]

Would love to see Raymond pick up a step or two during the offseason. Maybe some more leg strength? IDK as I am no longer expert. Love his game and the passion he plays. Hope the Wings sign him long term.

 

[19 for president]

One area that Ray has developed mentally over the season is his willingness to do it himself. His rookie and sophomore years he quite often deferred offensively, especially to Larkin. He would often make the extra pass even if he had an equal or better opportunity.

He still gets into that mode on occasion but since Larkin's injury he has really pushed himself to make the play.

The game tying goal last night was a perfect example. If you re-watch that play you'll see that Fabbri has also positioned himself well to be open for a one timer a little more center to the net. 8/10 times last season Ray would have given up that puck to Fabs, which would not have been per say a bad play but it would be a play that could get bungled up because Fabs did have a guy on his back. Instead Ray realized he could get to a good enough angle to make the shot and use Fabs as a distraction for the goalie. He had the confidence in his shot to put that puck exactly where it needed to go. Thats the sign of a guy whose game has really started to mature offensively. When the game is on the line, he wants the puck on his stick now. Thats the sign of a great player in the making.

 

[norrisnick]

One area that Ray has developed mentally over the season is his willingness to do it himself. His rookie and sophomore years he quite often deferred offensively, especially to Larkin. He would often make the extra pass even if he had an equal or better opportunity.

He still gets into that mode on occasion but since Larkin's injury he has really pushed himself to make the play.

The game tying goal last night was a perfect example. If you re-watch that play you'll see that Fabbri has also positioned himself well to be open for a one timer a little more center to the net. 8/10 times last season Ray would have given up that puck to Fabs, which would not have been per say a bad play but it would be a play that could get bungled up because Fabs did have a guy on his back. Instead Ray realized he could get to a good enough angle to make the shot and use Fabs as a distraction for the goalie. He had the confidence in his shot to put that puck exactly where it needed to go. Thats the sign of a guy whose game has really started to mature offensively. When the game is on the line, he wants the puck on his stick now. Thats the sign of a great player in the making.

Post game Mick said that while they were waiting for the 3 stars announcements he and Ray chatted and Ray mentioned that earlier in the game he was passing and it wasn't working so he decided to shoot. Good choice.

 

[SantosHalper]

There's the superstar, what people were craving for.

 

[newfy]

43 points in 44 games since new years

14 goals his last 17 games too. Not bad

 

[LarKing]

if Raymond can be a 70-80 point player going forward consistently we are sitting nicely when the guys that make it from Danielson/Kasper/Johansson/Wallinder/ASP/ Buchelnikov etc are on the team.

Really the biggest things are shoring up the defense/goaltending and getting a better 2C. We could have all of those in house. Hopefully Yzerman chills on the free agents this offseason and lets some more of these kids up to try and actually fill these positions.

Compher scores the occasional goal but he's pretty blackhole otherwise. Wouldn't call him a great passer, skater, not that creative, etc. When's the last real 2C we had? I'm guessing it was when we had Datsyuk and Zetterberg and even then our winger depth was pretty bad back then forcing them to be put together pretty frequently.

These "filler" middle six Cs we keep signing like Copp, Compher, Nielsen, Filppula, Weiss, etc never bring much offensively. It could also be that they're often asked to play more defensive roles but I think we'd be shocked at what a real 2C or even 1B type of center would do for us. If either of Danielson/Kasper can get there I think what would be so massive for us

 

[WaW]

The biggest positive (weirdly, the only thing that really exceeded my expectations....I had us finishing 6th in the Atlantic and we ended up 5th...so I guess there's that...barely, and maybe I was a bit low on Kane tbh, but thats it) was Raymond's final 30 or so games. Maybe it will end up being the best run of his career, you never know...but if it's a sign of things to come, then he's going to be an elite winger.