Lucas Raymond is poised to become Sweden’s next Olympic breakout star

For years, the Olympics were a distant dream for Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond. But on Wednesday in Milan, the dream comes true.

When Sweden opens its Olympic tournament against host nation Italy, Raymond won’t be tucked away in a depth role. He’s slotted in Sweden’s top six — a clear sign that this is as much of an opportunity as it is a development experience.

At last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off, Raymond got a taste of best-on-best intensity. That tournament was valuable, but it wasn't this. The Olympic Games amplify everything — pressure, spotlight, national expectation — and this time, Raymond isn’t merely a young talent earning trust. He’s being handed responsibility.

Usage tells you everything. Top-six minutes mean offensive zone starts, power-play opportunities, and late-game shifts when Sweden needs a goal instead of protecting one. That offers the kind of creative freedom that Raymond thrives on.

With the Detroit Red Wings, Raymond has quietly taken another step this season. He leads Detroit with 41 assists and 60 points, pacing a team currently sitting in a wild card position in the Atlantic Division.

Raymond’s game has shifted from flash to command, which demonstrates a degree of maturity. He’s manipulating defenders instead of simply attacking them. He’s delaying in transition, drawing coverage, and creating seams. He’s stronger on pucks along the wall, more patient in the slot, and more deliberate on the power play.

Olympic hockey isn’t won on raw speed alone. It’s won in tight spaces, in layered defensive systems, in moments where creativity must pierce structure. Raymond has grown into that kind of player, and Sweden will reap the benefits at this year's tournament.

The Olympic spotlight is lining up perfectly for Lucas Raymond

Sweden doesn’t lack Olympic lineage. From Peter Forsberg to Mats Sundin to Nicklas Lidström, the Tre Kronor sweater carries expectation. Every generation produces its breakout, and Raymond has the profile to be this one's.

At age 23, Raymond is beginning to enter his prime — not too young to be overwhelmed, not too old to plateau. He’s offensively confident, coming in during a season where he’s become Detroit’s primary play-driver on many nights. And perhaps most importantly, he plays with visible joy in high-stakes moments.

The Olympics position Raymond not as a complementary piece, but as a potential focal point. Sweden is asking him to create, not just contribute. If he embraces that responsibility — if he attacks with the same decisiveness he’s shown in Detroit — this could be the tournament that cements his international identity.