The Athletic’s Max Bultman posted an article in which he discusses the expectations for every Red Wings forward going into training camp, and we’ll start from the top:
Lucas Raymond: What kind of second-year leap is in store?
This time a year ago, the question with Raymond was simply where he would play. And frankly, he seemed destined for a season in Grand Rapids.
Yeah, about that. Raymond exploded onto the scene, making the NHL’s All-Rookie team behind a 23-goal, 57-point season. Now the question is: What will he do for an encore?
Now that he’s been through the grind of an NHL schedule — which he seemed to feel as the season wore on — Raymond could very well pop even more this season. Especially if Detroit’s power play, on which Raymond will be a key piece, can take a long-awaited step forward. Teams know more about him now than they did a year ago, but the bet here is Raymond’s improvement will outpace the ways opponents adjust to defend him.
And examine a “new guy”…
David Perron: Can he help establish a new culture?
Perron might have been the single best addition the Red Wings made this summer. He’s a high-level scorer who shoots right-handed, which will help the power play, and he should bring some jam to the top six, as well. That all will give Detroit a boost right away.
In the big picture, though, one of the most valuable things Perron brings to the Red Wings may be in the dressing room. He’s been a part of a Stanley Cup winner in St. Louis, and he wore a letter on the famous “Golden Misfits” team in Vegas that shocked everyone in the franchise’s first season. Those experiences could prove vital as Lalonde tries to set a foundation in Detroit.
Perron knows what it takes to set and maintain a winning standard, and for that reason, he’s a candidate to wear an “A” for the Red Wings — and to back it up on the ice.
Continued (paywall)
