The Athletic’s Pronman ranks Lucas Raymond as his 4th-best prospect

The Athletic’s Corey Pronman has posted his Top 131 prospects for the 2020 NHL draft this morning, and Pronman’s 4th-overall-ranked player is Lucas Raymond:

4. Lucas Raymond, LW, Frolunda-SHL

March 28, 2002 | 5-foot-10 | 170 pounds

Skating: 55
Puck Skills: 70
Physical Game: 35
Hockey Sense: 65

Raymond didn’t have a great season, mostly due to the limited role he played on a high scoring Frolunda team, where he averaged less than 10 minutes of ice time but did get some power play time. He looked very good at the U20 level and in brief deployment at the junior level in Sweden, but he didn’t blow doors down this season. He remains a top prospect because of his incredible talent, hockey sense and his performance when he played versus his peers. As an underage he dominated Sweden’s junior league as a 16-year-old and helped carry Sweden’s U18 team to a gold medal. With the puck on his stick he’s incredibly dangerous. His hands are elite and his ability to beat defenders 1-on-1 clean in ways unlike other players can create a lot of highlight reel moments. He will be a true PP1 quarterback in the NHL because of the unique plays he can make. He has a unique way of navigating with the puck in the offensive zone, showing the patience and vision of a top NHL playmaker in how he picks apart defenses and find seams. Raymond isn’t the biggest guy and isn’t a guy you will tab to kill penalties, but he competes well and gets to the net. While he’s more of a passer, he does have a good shot when he looks to shoot. My one concern is his just average footspeed, particularly as a 5-foot-10 forward. He has good edgework and a powerful first step, with a wide stance he employs when trying to protect pucks but lacks an NHL caliber separation gear.

Draft-eligible prospect Alexander Holtz on Raymond: “He’s a special playmaker. His vision is great, but he can also shoot it and skates very well, too.”

Continued (paywall); those who follow include Cole Perfetti, Alexander Holtz, Jamie Drysdale, Yaroslav Askarov, Marco Rossi and then Jake Sanderson.