The plus-minus system in hockey is an outdated metric to evaluate player performance and the Detroit Red Wings, including Lucas Raymond, are a great example.
The plus-minus stat gives a player plus-1 if they are on the ice when their team scores an even strength or a shorthanded goal. On the other hand, players are given minus-1 if they are on the ice when their team allows an even strength or shorthanded goal. Power play goals scored for a team do not count toward plus-minus.
The Red Wings were more of an anomaly last year. They were simultaneously outstanding on the man advantage and absolutely dreadful on the penalty kill, yet the plus-minus system did not reward them for their efforts on the power play. So, at its very foundation, it’s a flawed system.
Nathan MacKinnon, of the Colorado Avalanche posted 116 points this past season (32 goals, 84 assists) and finished the year with a plus-25. This system suggests that MacKinnon is electrifying on both sides of the puck, because not only is he scoring, but the team is also scoring more goals when he’s on the ice than allowing them.
But this way of thinking completely ignores the eye test. We are relying primarily on a statistic rather than a skillset, which is very important when it comes to player evaluation. From an honest perspective, MacKinnon is arguably a poor defensive player, but this metric suggests that he’s great. That’s far from the case.
Raymond’s defensive skills
While Raymond’s defensive skills are not a liability, they aren’t quite a strength yet, either. It’s more neutral than positive, although the plus-minus system would tell you that Raymond has regressed significantly and there’s no way he’s going to score 90 points next season.
While Raymond lacks the physicality of D men in the league, he has a very good eye and picks off passes in the neutral zone with his stick or deflects it away from enemies. He’s also very consistent on the backcheck and has solid transitions. That extra speed intimidates puck carriers into making bad decisions and that means another opportunity for the Wings to score.
Predictions for Raymond
The Red Wings have bolstered their defensive depth this offseason with the acquisitions of James van Riemsdyk and Mason Appleton—two seasoned veterans who bring structure and intelligent aggression on the blue line. Additionally, Detroit addressed its goaltending situation by trading for former all-star John Gibson, who was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks.
Given the trajectory of his development and the structural improvements surrounding him, it is entirely plausible—if not probable—that Lucas Raymond will surpass the 90-point threshold this season, provided he remains healthy.
On the surface, the Red Wings appear to be a team on the cusp of a competitive renaissance, blending an invigorating core of emerging talent with seasoned experience in a manner that feels both deliberate and promising. Even modest improvements in defensive structure may prove catalytic, affording key players greater freedom and efficiency.
In that context, projecting Raymond into the 95–100-point echelon is no longer merely aspirational—it’s becoming an expectation.
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