Detroit Red Wings & Lucas Raymond’s contract: when, not if

The good news is that my anxiety has eased with the updates we received about Lucas Raymond’s contract negotiations.

At times, I find myself dwelling on what-if scenarios that won’t be. It’s a long, treacherous rabbit hole. 

Regardless of how absurd the situation is, I will find a way to make it plausible in my head. Then, it helps to talk through various scenarios in my head to get me out of the looney tunes state of mind.

With the crazy offer sheets happening, and Moritz Seider and Raymond both not being signed, the logical part of my brain says everything will work out just fine. A little nagging voice in my head, though, thinks what if it doesn’t? That’s why I wanted to talk through why offer sheets might or might not make sense for the players and the team.

The National Hockey League (NHL) insider who kicked off my anxiety about the nonexistent Seider and Raymond contracts, sings a different tune this week:

Ironically, I think I trust @IcehockeyGifs more than the aforementioned NHL insider, as he added even more context to the situation, then cited the source:

Nothing personal to the NHL insider, but @IcehockeyGifs has yet to steer me wrong and doesn’t seem to embellish anything. I understand that insiders cannot cite sources in most cases, because no one would speak to them. Although in this instance, it’s odd that both updates came out very close together with seemingly similar information. I find it possible, but not likely given the tight lips surrounding the Detroit Red Wings organization.

Lucas Raymond’s contract is on the horizon

I’m happy to see that Raymond’s contract talks are progressing. To read that Raymond just wants to play hockey is calming to know. Raymond’s not surprising the organization with crazy demands.

Considering how far Raymond has come in his development (arguably carried the team the last third of the season) and potential this upcoming season (and years beyond), it wouldn’t be unheard of for a player in Raymond’s situation to demand excess money in his contract. Or, go a shorter-term route and bank on himself earning a higher dollar figure with the rising cap and proven abilities. However, it seems that Raymond’s situation is going through the typical motions of a contract negotiation.

Another aspect of why things have been so delayed might be the busy offseason for both parties. Raymond participated in the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Ice Hockey World Championship, then probably took time away from hockey. Recently, Raymond traveled to Mannheim, Germany, to practice with Seider’s former Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) team—Adler Mannheim.

There could be countless reasons why Raymond (and Seider) haven’t signed. 

Part of me thinks that neither player wanted to discuss a contract during the regular season. If so, they might also have refrained from serious contract talks until now with likely busy summers (whether hockey-related or not).

Yzerman could have pushed for a contract sooner, I’m sure that he could have signed them before now. He’s stated he would have liked to sign them before free agency, but it wasn’t happening. I appreciate the confidence and patience Yzerman has with these situations. 

I remember with the Vancouver Canucks during the regular season, Elias Pettersson (their star forward) wanted to focus on hockey rather than a contract extension. To me, it was a very understandable request from Pettersson. From a team perspective, I can understand the apprehension in waiting, to a certain extent, as it’s important to keep a star player at most costs.

During the negotiations (midseason), rumors spread like wildfire that the Vancouver Canucks might trade Pettersson. It might have been high school-style gossip running rampant, but it kind of seemed like the team pressured Pettersson to sign. From an outsider’s perspective, I never saw Pettersson playing for a different team (meaning a contract would happen eventually, just at a later point). 

Pettersson commented in a previous offseason that he wanted to play winning hockey or something along those lines. It was the only thing that might have held Pettersson back from signing long-term as the Vancouver Canucks struggled during his tenure. This season, though, the Vancouver Canucks put things together and looked like a true Stanley Cup-contending team. With this quick rise of the team, I suspected Pettersson was likely a Vancouver Canuck for the long haul.

Yzerman could have tried a similar tactic if the Vancouver Canucks pressured Pettersson, but I’m glad Yzerman didn’t. If there is genuine trust between the player(s) and management, there shouldn’t be a need to venture such routes. It feels icky and insecure. Two things Yzerman isn’t.

It’s refreshing to have someone in charge who doesn’t make brash decisions but who sticks to a plan (even to a fault). I’m sure I’ll grow tired of it at some point, it’s just not today.

Players need to be allowed to make decisions on their own time and when they feel most comfortable. It’s better to build bridges out of respect rather than fear.

Yzerman isn’t a pushover either where he lets players run the contract negotiation. Touted as a challenging, strict negotiator, Yzerman knows the set dollar and term he’s looking for and makes it happen. Although not every contract works out perfectly to his ideas, he does the best he can with the cards that he is dealt.

Hopefully, very soon we get to stargaze at his meticulous contract negotiations with Raymond.