Are the Detroit Red Wings considering a position move for Lucas Raymond?

The Detroit Red Wings may be considering shaking things up in the offense. This may be a conversation for after the 2023-24 season, but a major switch-up could be coming to the team's forward core involving one of their bright young stars. Lucas Raymond may be playing a new position next fall.

The Detroit Red Wings could be looking to spice things up, and lately, it feels like Lucas Raymond could be headed for a position change. Raymond has made a name for himself and lately has been one of the bright spots on a Red Wings team that is struggling to stay alive in the postseason race.

However, there's something to be said about Raymond's abilities up the middle lately. He may not be playing center as a true center in the forward core, but the Red Wings could be considering a change down the line. Raymond could see some more time up the middle and be an option as a center.

It sounds crazy; trust me, I agree. But there's a chance that Raymond could end up getting some chances at center. Dylan Larkin is the team's top centerman; there's no denying that. J.T. Compher has been a serviceable number two but could be better off as the team's third-line center.

Detroit Red Wings should experiment with Lucas Raymond at center.

Raymond's been hot lately, getting the job done for Detroit. His two-goal night helped salvage a win against the Columbus Blue Jackets. But Raymond has also taken some serious strides this year. He's set a career-high in points and is looking like he's going to be an impressive forward for Detroit for years to come.

Raymond has 24 goals and 35 assists for 59 total points over 69 games played for the Red Wings. It's a hard argument that he's playing center, with just ten draws taken in 2023-24, but there's been talk of getting him more involved up the middle, seeing if he can hack it.

The odds are that he will stay at the wing, but there could be a change coming. After all, he's refined his frame and made some changes. Last summer was a big one for his development, and he's looked great this year. Could a shift in center take his game to another level?

Perhaps, something can be learned from the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks flipped Elias Pettersson from a winger to a center a few years into his career. Since then, things have taken off a bit after a stagnant start. Pettersson's been great for Vancouver, and the Red Wings should consider doing something similar with Lucas Raymond.

I may be barking up the wrong tree here. The Red Wings are falling out of a playoff race. Raymond's having a career-best year, and no one will want to change things. But it's certainly something to consider. Raymond moving up the middle could be an interesting move.