Lucas Raymond’s Hot Start: How one player is setting the tone for the Red Wings

Last week, I talked about how blueliner Moritz Seider has been the Red Wings MVP for just over the first month of the season. It’s a notion I stand by, and while players like Dylan Larkin and Alex DeBrincat have also been aces for Detroit, you can argue that Lucas Raymond has enjoyed an even hotter start. 

Note that I’m not saying Raymond has been better than Larkin or DeBrincat, but I am simply laying out some reasoning as to why he’s been better than both so far. Some fans may look at goals scored, and Raymond has been on an ultra-cold streak here, converting just one so far in 14 games for a meager 4.3 shooting percentage. 

Still, when you have 12 assists in 14 contests, do the math on what you’d be on track for throughout an 82-game slate, and you get between 70 and 71. And for Raymond, those goals will come; he just needs to get more shots through to the net. Or, better yet, more than the meager 23 on goal he’s had so far this year. 

Lucas Raymond could be setting the tone for the Red Wings

It looks like everyone in management also trusts Raymond, given his 18:28 of average total ice time, which is, so far, the highest of his career. If he continues putting on some serious playmaking, expect that number to increase even more as the season continues. 

Offense hasn’t been the only place Raymond has been making his mark. It’s true he’s not the Red Wings most physical forward, but nobody is expecting that. However, he’s only been on the ice at even strength for 10 goals allowed so far, putting him on track for between 58 and 59 allowed. 

Further, his on-ice save percentage in the same situation is hovering at 90.6, which is also a career-high. Yeah, it helps to have a pair of better goalies in the net than what the Red Wings had to deal with last season, minus Alex Lyon, but it also indicates an improvement in Raymond’s defensive play.

Raymond has also been ultra-effective when the Wings are on the man advantage, having seen 10 goals scored so far while on the ice. This number is good for an on-ice shooting percentage at 5-on-4 of 22.7, making him a huge reason why the Red Wings power play is clicking at the moment.