Lucas Raymond is one of the NHL's premier playmakers. He's currently pacing the Detroit Red Wings in points, with 45 in 42 games. But only 12 of those points are goals, and Raymond isn't satisfied with that number over halfway through the season.
Raymond recently discussed the issue, saying, "I'm probably not where I want to be shot-wise. Every game develops differently. But in general, if you look at the top scorers, shot volume is probably a key thing."
Currently, he's on pace for between 22 and 23 goals. But for a player with a solid shooting 13.2 percentage, he could be doing way more damage if he gets his shot totals up. Raymond is fourth on the Red Wings in shots on goal with 91, but he's well behind other major point producers Alex DeBrincat (152) and Dylan Larkin (123).
DeBrincat and Larkin have also been the top scorers in Hockeytown, with 22 goals apiece. Moritz Seider, who is third on the team with 100 shots, is having a career year with seven goals and 31 points in 44 contests.
Detroit Red Wings need Lucas Raymond to step up with his shot totals
Raymond admitted his low shooting output at a time when the Red Wings have been struggling to get much going offensively. As a team, they have averaged just 19.7 shots per game, and it's a far cry from what they must do if they want to stay in contention.
If an impact player like Raymond started averaging three shots on goal per game on most nights like Larkin and DeBrincat, that could provide a spark for the rest of the team. Getting more shots off may not mean Raymond starts scoring more, but it will allow for more chances to get rebounds, or even deflections into the net for goals.
Raymond has a golden opportunity to take the Red Wings up another level
With 134 goals this season, a mark that ranks 12th in the NHL, the Red Wings have proven they can score when they get shots off. Should Raymond pick up the pace, there is a good chance it will turn the Wings into, at worst, a top-10 scoring unit, if not better.
Now, the real test begins for Raymond. He identified a key issue holding his game back, but is he going to take action and start getting more shots off? Or, will he dish the puck elsewhere and hope someone else finishes the sequence?
Raymond has done an outstanding job this season finding open teammates like DeBrincat and Larkin. But he's also too talented to be a one-dimensional player. If he starts shooting and scoring more, Raymond will elevate everyone around him and officially join the list of the NHL's most premier players.