Since taking the NHL stage ahead of everyone’s schedule in the fall of 2021, Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond has found himself in the middle of a lot of sentences containing the words “first since” or “youngest since” when it comes to contextualizing the early stages of his career within the franchise’s long and illustrious history.
Over the course of the past week, Raymond has climbed another such list, rising to fourth all-time in Red Wings franchise history in terms of goals scored before turning 23 years old. The 22-year-old Raymond has 90 (and counting), with the last two (next Tuesday night against the Sharks and Saturday night in Tampa) helping him leapfrog his captain Dylan Larkin for sole possession of fourth place. The only three players left ahead of him are all Hockey Hall-of-Famers: Steve Yzerman, Gordie Howe and Marcell Dionne.
In 46 games this season, the young Swede has racked up 19 goals and 31 assists. Raymond doesn’t turn 23 until March 28, so he has plenty of time to score the three goals needed to surpass Dionne. Scrambling ahead of Howe would be a tall order, but not entirely out of the realm of possibility, while current Detroit General Manager Steve Yzerman can rest easy in the comfort that his 164 goals before the age of 23 will hold up.
On one level it’s a rather arbitrary milestone, but the underlying truth is clear and obvious: Raymond has been highly productive from the moment he arrived in Detroit. The organization needed him and [Moritz Seider] to immediately contribute in a way unprecedented for the team in the 21st century.
And against the backdrop, both players have done well from the moment they arrived. As Larkin said before the season started, as a young and blossoming star: “You’re slowly being seen as a leader in the team and part of the core. I’ve noticed them being louder. Lucas at the end of last year’s season – the way he played, the way he took over, started to dominate shifts, periods and matches, with the way he sacrificed the body, he is always there for us. I think they have more growth in it, but that’s all young twenties in the NHL We expect a lot from them, and they’ve always responded, so I’m excited for them this season.”
Related: “We expect a lot from them, and they have always responded”: Seider and Raymond struck as leaders in Detroit’s battle for the Playoffs
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