EP Rinkside’s Sean Shapiro shared some Red Wings-related thoughts on his “Shap Shots” blog today:
On Lucas Raymond: The scouts I spoke to love Raymond’s game, they also see a big boost for the forward coming this season after he put up 72 points (31 goals, 41 assists) in 82 games.
“The league kind of learned him in year two, he went through a bit of that sophomore slump and came out stronger last year,” one scout said. “I love everything he does and to me, he’s just gonna keep getting better.”
From a contract perspective, there was a bit of a consensus that smart business by Detroit would be to get Raymond locked in on a long-term deal to avoid the future cost of a bridge deal.
“He could bet on himself and I would bet he would make himself a ton more money doing that,” one scout said. “You never really know with Steve (Yzerman), but I feel like he’s gotta find a way to get it to a seven or eight-year deal now to avoid the future hurt on the cap when he out plays a bridge.”
On Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat: I spoke to a couple scouts about the pair that had such great chemistry in Chicago and really only showed flashes of it last season in Detroit.
“I think it’s still there, and we saw it here and there, but I think there was a bit more pressure on them to get it right, right away,” one scout said. “Kane played what, 50 games? I think he came in and there timing just took a bit. I think those two with a full camp will be in a great spot.”
Continued; thankfully both Raymond and Seider appear to be ready to sign on the dotted line–once their agents and GM Steve Yzerman agree upon contracts…
