The Detroit News’s John Niyo reflects upon Lucas Raymond’s 8-year, $64.6 million contract extension this evening, discussing the ways in which “hope becomes expectation” now that Raymond’s probable prime years are in front of him, likely to be played here in Detroit:
Now that it is complete, Raymond is eager to show everyone he’s far from done growing as a player: “I mean, that’s the goal. I’m still 22, so hopefully I have a lot of development to still do.”
The fourth-overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft is coming off a career-best production last season, racking up 31 goals and 71 points while playing all 82 games. That breakthrough was attributed partly to his off-ice work last summer, as the young Swede arrived at training camp having added about 12 pounds of muscle. And that improved strength seemed to carry through his entire game, whether it was winning more puck battles early or finishing chances late.
As impressive as he was in carrying the Red Wings’ offense when Larkin missed time due to injury, he was even more so in that pressure-packed final month when every night felt like a playoff elimination game. There was the hat trick to salvage a point in Pittsburgh. The two late goals against Montreal to keep Detroit’s postseason hopes alive. Another just before the buzzer in Columbus to force OT. In all, Raymond scored 14 goals over the last 18 games, as the Wings ultimately lost a tiebreaker for the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.
And while that finishing stretch “really helped his cause” when it came to this new contract — one that’s still under the $8.35 AAV deal Ottawa’s Tim Stutzle signed two years ago, by the way — it was just one of many factors.
“I don’t know that there’s a specific age that a player peaks at, but I think he’s just entering the early stages of his prime,” Yzerman said. “I fully expect him to become a better hockey player for a couple reasons. I think he’s extremely driven, an extremely bright player, and … he’ll just continue to get better over the next few years. On all these long-term deals for younger players, there is a little bit of projection in it. There’s an expectation that the player will take his game to another level — and that’s on both sides. And I’m very confident that Lucas will do that.”
Continued (paywall); now get Seider done, Mr. Yzerman…
