Detroit Red Wings: Lucas Raymond’s slow start is concerning
It’s much too early in the season to panic, but after six regular season games, second-year Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond‘s slow start is somewhat concerning.
So far in 2022, Raymond hasn’t been able to emulate the same production he showed throughout his rookie season. The Calder Trophy finalist is in the midst of an early-season sophomore slump. Raymond has recorded just two assists throughout Detroit’s first six games of the regular season.
Raymond has registered 14 shots on goal and has averaged 19:14 of ice time to date, which is exactly a minute more than he averaged last season as a rookie.
Head coach Derek Lalonde continues to give the 20-year-old winger every opportunity to break out of his mini-slump. For the majority of the season, Lalonde has skated Raymond on Detroit’s top line alongside captain Dylan Larkin. With Tyler Bertuzzi out for an extended amount of time due to injury, the Red Wings have elevated red-hot Dominik Kubalik to the top unit as his replacement.
Kubalik has recorded four goals and ten points over the teams’ first six games. Larkin currently sits with eight points and four goals.
Lalonde recently elevated veteran David Perron to the top unit replacing Raymond. During Wednesday’s practice ahead of Thursday’s date with the Bruins, Raymond skated alongside Andrew Copp and Joe Veleno.
Trending. The Red Wings need to immediately fix their faceoff woes. light
So why is Raymond struggling to chip in on the scoresheet?
Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond is off to a slow start in 2022-23.
Lalonde feels that Raymond is pressing too much and needs to focus more on the details of the game.
“Lack of some detail in his game, which is understandable of a young player,” Lalonde said. “He’s so competitive. Now he’s channeling it incorrectly. He’s pressing now. It’s typical of most players, let alone young players. I think he believes he needs to help the team with offense. Now it’s looping, it’s cheating, it’s not taking care of the wall, and now he’s being stuck in his D-zone instead of doing the things he can do in the offensive zone.“Not concerned at all. Typical of a young player pressing a bit.”
Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin also explained that there is no need to panic, explaining that young players tend to go through these types of stretches.
“He’s going to play a lot of hockey, he’s going to go through a lot of ups, a lot of downs,” Larkin said. “When things aren’t going well, when the puck’s not going in the net, you got to work, go out there and win battles. That’s what I say to him because that’s what I think about when things aren’t going well for myself.“I was in this position (his second season), but he’s much more talented than I was at that age, and much more mature. He’s going to find his stride and we need that for our team to get going.”
Larkin would know firsthand. You will recall the ups and downs of Larkin once he broke into Detroit’s lineup back in 2015-16 as a 19-year-old. Larkin burst onto the scene, recording 23 goals while totaling 45 points. He’d follow that up with a mediocre sophomore season notching 17 goals and 32 points.
The Red Wings captain had his fair share of turmoil before becoming the player he is today. Larkin’s experience will only help mentor Raymond, especially during the ‘down’ times.
Want your voice heard? Join the Octopus Thrower team!
Lalonde would go on to mention that he’s not worried about Raymond right now; he is looking at the big picture, saying he’s worried about where Raymond will be in two months, two years from now. Lalonde wants to ensure he continues to help with his progression and continue encouraging him to play the game the right way.