You can’t say enough good things about Lucas Raymond, who finished the year with 80 points and 27 goals in 82 games. Yeah, he garnered a minus-15, but that doesn’t worry me, considering most of the Red Wings didn’t fare so well in that particular stat category.
And yeah, he gave up the puck 80 times. But 80 points make up for most of those giveaways. While the Red Wings can use a player with even more star caliber, it’s also worth acknowledging Raymond is more than worth building around for the time. He could be the player to build around if the Wings continue to add solid players to the mix. Another from the Marco Kasper mold will be great.
So, I’m not ruling out that he can’t be the leader and the guy on this team, even if Dylan Larkin may still wear the ‘C’ label. And what I like most about Raymond is that, despite showcasing his playmaking abilities early, he also got off to a rough start from a scoring standpoint, but he ultimately overcame that.
Grade: A-minus - Raymond has done everything right and finished the season as the Red Wings leading points producer. That said, his defensive play is a work in progress, and that docks him down a slight notch.
Lucas Raymond should climb another rung in 2025-26
In 2023-24, Raymond finished the year with 72 points and 31 goals. So, you can say he regressed in the scoring realm this past season. But hey, four fewer goals and more playmaking isn’t true regression anywhere in my book, so I’m not worried about that number in the slightest.
Raymond could drop to scoring just 23 goals next season, but if he finishes with 90-plus points, is anyone complaining? Probably not, since it shows that the Wings have more than a few players who can step up and finish sequences. Raymond would be acting as the key, and the likes of Alex DeBrincat, to throw a name out there, will be the passage.
Even if he finished with the same number or even fewer points in 2025-26, Raymond is still climbing another rung if his defensive play picks up. So, we’re not talking exclusively points totals here, but all-around play.
Why won’t Lucas Raymond be the star moving forward?
One of my gripes about the Red Wings is that they don’t have a true, top-tier star like a Connor McDavid or a Sidney Crosby-equivalent, just to throw out a couple of popular names. Raymond is great, but he’s more like a Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues - someone who can rack up points and assists, but doesn’t have a complete game.
This leaves the Wings with two primary options. They can acquire a star who can fit the mold, a player equivalent to Jack Eichel or Matthew Tkachuk, which I’ve talked about before. Or, they can go get someone whose talent compensates for what Raymond can’t bring. A forward with better defensive play and even more goal-scoring prowess.
That’s what keeps me from labeling Raymond as a surefire star who will evolve into one of the faces of the league. But he’s also someone with enough talent who will force opponents to key on him every time he skates onto the ice.
