When Steve Yzerman selected Lucas Raymond with the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, he did so with the foresight of a long-term investment in elite talent.
Five years later, Raymond is entering the second season of the eight-year, $64.6 million contract he signed last year—a deal earned after a breakout campaign in which he recorded a career-high 80 points (27 goals, 53 assists) over a full 82-game season.
As with any elite athlete, there is an ever-present drive to exceed last year’s standard—to aim higher, to break new ground, and to dismantle the limits that once seemed immovable. The familiar expression is “the sky is the limit,” but perhaps a more fitting sentiment is this: "Potential has yet to find its borders."
Get ready for more
There’s an underrated track making quiet rounds—Are You Ready for More by Jason Tarver. While its tone and style may not perfectly match Raymond’s personal playlist, its message resonates. Raymond is not only ready to elevate his own game—he’s prepared to lift his team with him.
"I feel like I found my game faster than usual when you feel comfortable and up to speed out there," he told reporters following the conclusion of training camp.
The message is unmistakable: This is the best Raymond has ever felt entering a season. And if that’s true, then we may be on the verge of something special. Last year may have been considered a breakout campaign, but by all indications, it was only a preview of what’s to come.
The Red Wings’ rebuild has undeniably taken longer than many expected, testing the patience of players, management, and fans alike. But beyond the numbers—beyond the statistics, playoff races, and championship aspirations—lies a quieter, more enduring challenge: the relentless, often unseen pursuit of improvement in every facet of the game.
The Red Wings are back
In the NHL, relevance is often tied to winning. On a struggling team, headlines are scarce and attention is fleeting. But hidden beneath the surface are players destined for stardom. Just four years ago, Raymond entered the league alongside Moritz Seider.
They debuted together, grew together, and even competed for the Calder Trophy. Seider ultimately claimed the honor, but Raymond’s rookie campaign—23 goals and 34 assists for 57 points—was the kind of start that many players would call a career.
Now, after years of development and growing pains, the hockey world is beginning to acknowledge what Detroit has quietly built. Insiders increasingly regard the Red Wings as possessing one of the deepest and most promising prospect pools in the sport. And with whispers circulating about a potential future pursuit of Connor McDavid—should he part ways with Edmonton—there’s no shortage of motivation for this team to make a statement.
The foundation is in place. The belief is growing. And if Raymond’s trajectory is any indication, Detroit’s long-awaited resurgence may finally be within reach.
"I think a lot of guys coming up have had a really good Camp, it's fun to see," Raymond said of the prospects who were present in Training Camp. "You see guys put their foot forward out there and try to make it as hard as possible for coaches and management."
Raymond also acknowledged that the rising skill level of the next generation has served as motivation to keep his own game finely tuned.
"It's really exciting, and I think that just adds to it, the pressure coming from underneath and kind of puts a fire underneath everyone's ass a bit," Raymond said with a smile. "It's been fun."
A Stanley Cup Is coming -- eventually
The Red Wings came agonizingly close to a playoff berth last season, and this year, a return to the postseason feels less like a hope and more like an expectation. But if there’s one message this team is sending to the league—and to its global fanbase—it’s clear: now is the time to get on board, because this train isn’t slowing down for anyone.
Last season ended in a whirlwind of emotion and difficult questions, but the offseason has ushered in a renewed sense of purpose. Captain Dylan Larkin enters the year with a clear head and steady leadership, Lucas Raymond is more motivated than ever, and Alex DeBrincat looks poised to unleash his scoring prowess with confidence and consistency.
The ingredients are finally aligning, and if all goes to plan, the result may just be a long-awaited Stanley Cup—baked to perfection in Hockeytown.