Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond spoke with Aftonbladet’s Per Bjurman about his early-season success with the Wings. What follows is roughly translated from Swedish:
Rookie Raymond is red-hot–sixth in the points league
New York: Lucas Raymond is glowing.
He scored again last night, and is tied for sixth place in NHL scoring
“It’s fun that it goes well for both the team and me, but I try not to think about that, I just try to play as well as I can,” says the 19-year-old rookie success to Sportbladet.
So, how was your weekend?
Probably not as successful as Lucas Raymond’s, I would guess.
He’s accounted for three assists when the Detroit Red Wings beat Sabres in Buffalo on Saturday–and he followed that up with his sixth goal of the season as they defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2 last night.
“Yes, these games were really successful. Especially as it was a bit difficult during the road trip just before,” says the young Gothenburg native on the phone from Motown.
Direct shot on goal
His goal overnight was what can be called a typical Raymond goal. On the power play in the middle of the 1st period, he was already in the lower part of the left faceoff circle, and he got a perfect pass from the equally hot linemate Tyler Bertuzzi, and whipped in a quick direct shot.
“Yes, we started the power play tonight and scored another in the same situation shortly afterward. That was where the game was decided,” he continues.
I get the impression that you’re thriving, and fit, very well on the smaller rink. Do you agree, and why is that so?
“Well, I don’t know. Both. Actually, I probably don’t think that there’s such a big difference. I play the same way as I usually do.”
Humble after his successes
In total, the 19-year-old from Gothenburg is up to 14 points (6 goals and 8 assists), and that doesn’t just mean that he’s at the top of the league’s rookies in points. It also means that he’s up alongside Elias Lindholm for first place among Swedes in points–and that they are both jointly in sixth place in total points (with six others, but still).
However, it does not appear that the early successes are going to his head.
“It’s fun that it goes well for both the team and me, but I don’t think so much about that. I just try to play as well as I can,” he says.
The Red Wings have three more home games this week, against Edmonton (Tuesday), Washington (Thursday) and Montreal (Saturday).
It may be time to sacrifice one or two nights’ sleep [in Sweden] for one of those games, because a new Swedish star is clearly lighting up in Detroit.
