The hero Detroit Red Wings need…

The fault in his wings

Defensive play can always improve (unless your name is Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, or Patrice Bergeron in terms of forwards). As a winger, Raymond’s defensive play is above average. It’s seemingly reasonable to assume that Raymond can make it part of his elite toolkit.

He was tied for third worst in plus/minus this season with a -12. On its own, plus/minus isn’t a great statistic, but I appreciate it for relativity’s sake. It can provide confirmation of the eye test or if I’m missing something.

Realistically, I don’t think Raymond is the third worst Detroit Red Wings player in his own zone. Although, there is room for much improvement.

If Raymond continues to play at wing, I think he needs to learn to trust his centerman. The biggest mishaps from Raymond seem to occur when he tries to do too much. He might leave his side of the ice to cover a man in the slot or just an open slot as our defense and center went to lunch early. This situation leaves his side of the ice and man uncovered. 

Additionally, I think Raymond has room to improve with corralling pucks and tracking play from inside the slot in his own zone if he continues to cover that area of the ice. Far too many times, I watched him struggle to gain control of the puck or even know where it was on this ice (then he found out it was at his feet). 

Interestingly enough, he corrals the puck and tracks play exceptionally well from the neutral zone onwards, it’s just in his own zone. I’m not sure if things are more mental or if it’s getting adjusted to different teammates that he’s played with all season, but it’s reasonable to think that Raymond translates these skills to his own zone at some point.

“Why not take a crazy chance?” (Hilary Duff)

Another way I think we see a huge improvement in these aspects of Raymond’s game is a change in his position. To me, Raymond playing wing is a loss to him, his abilities, and the Detroit Red Wings.

He already plays like an assertive centerman. While he can drive play from the wing effectively, he’s smart enough to learn to adapt his game to a center position. His skating should be passable at worst, especially with his confidence in playing his game. It might involve a bit slower pace than say a Dylan Larkin-style line.

With a player like Jonatan Berggren, just the first player who comes to mind, who plays a more cerebral, east/west-style of game, I think they could do a lot of damage. 

Mixing in Larkin on the line before or following makes it challenging to defend against as well. The change of pace might leave opposing teams and coaches in tough spots. The players who might be most effective against a Larkin-driven line might not be so effective against a Raymond-type line. 

The Detroit Red Wings have a few centers cooking in Marco Kasper and Nate Danielson who seem promising. Both have found new levels to their games, albeit at different levels of competition, but I digress.

Along with J.T. Compher, it sets up the center position nicely for the Detroit Red Wings down the road. It might mean that center competition is high, driving players to work for the center position or allow the better-suited-to-the-wing candidates to transition to the wing. 

Guys like Joseph Veleno and Andrew Copp are okay as centers but might be better suited to the wing. Maybe over time, Raymond would be better shifting back to the wing once Kasper and Danielson are ready, but I think if he switches to center, the most he might do is share center duties with another player. 

A future line of Berggren, Kasper, & Raymond?

In my head, I love the idea of Kasper and Raymond on a line with Berggren. Two more defensively responsible players, but they can hold their own in the offensive zone. Meanwhile Berggren can do his thing. I think Kasper and Berggren already play phenomenally together. 

The Grand Rapids Griffins iced those two on the same line for the last third or so of the regular season. With Austin Czarnik returning from the NHL, Kasper was bumped to the second line (even though Kasper’s game is ridiculously good).

Cart Mazur played on that line while it was together. He added a nice physical, little bit of everything element to the line. Mazur is great in his own right; however, Raymond would add another dynamic layer to the line. This season, we saw the hits that an all grown up Raymond can dish, so he might fit right in on the line in place of Mazur. His elite vision, playmaking, and shot should elevate the line as well. It might take a bit of time for the players to adjust to each other, but it’s likely to be a compatible line.

Of course, the NHL is another animal, so who knows if it will translate well. Berggren and Kasper play an NHL projectable style, so I’m hopeful it would. While Raymond and Berggren weren’t effective as a line late in the season, I think they would adjust well together if given more than 5 periods of hockey together.

Even without a change to center…

Hinting at the shift to center is not a possibility, Lalonde indicated the deployment of Raymond as a center was out of necessity when he played some shifts at center. 

It’s interesting to know that it’s not something the Detroit Red Wings see for Raymond long-term. I’m not sure if that’s the preference of the player or the team. (The team lacks wingers, so it could very well be a team thing.)

Even if Raymond isn’t a center, I still think the Detroit Red Wings coaching staff isn’t using Raymond as much as they should. They let Moritz Seider loose on both specialty teams, playing against high levels of competition, and as much ice time as he can handle.

At times, it seems like the Detroit Red Wings coaching staff holds back on using Raymond. Sometimes he’s deployed on the second power play unit or second line (5-on-5) rather than spending most of his time against the opposition’s best penalty kill unit or forward line.

I wish the Detroit Red Wings had a bit more faith and confidence in Raymond like they do with Seider. Maybe long-term they will, especially given the way his game was at the end of the season. Similarly to Raymond forcing his way on to the roster for the 2021-22 season, he might force the Detroit Red Wings coaching staff to reconsider both his role in the team and within the lineup.

No longer should he be held back, played lower in the lineup, or only given top line duties when other players are unavailable. I think he’s an undeniable play driver who can play with and against the best. 

He’s the hero the Detroit Red Wings have searched for next season and beyond if given the chance. Often, players struggle with these transitions. If we look at Seider, his numbers and on ice play might not prevent a goal against every single shift but he learns from those hard lessons.

Raymond will too. He and the Detroit Red Wings will be better in the long run for it. 

Echoing back to my  reference and Raymond being the equivalent of Mulan, I see him as the future and inspiration of the Detroit Red Wings. He’s who we want players to emulate.

Yes, his talent is off the charts, but it’s more so his work ethic, inner drive, and compete that sets him apart from the rest. His current teammates and upcoming Detroit Red Wings prospects can all learn from and adapt these aspects to their own game.

It’s why as soon as next season, I vote for Raymond to wear an “A” on his jersey. He already demonstrates the player architype we need in our leaders. Coupled with Larkin, I think they would make for one of the best leadership groups the Detroit Red Wings have had since the rebuild started.

If someone like Seider is added to the mix, I think the Detroit Red Wings would become even stronger following in all three players’ footsteps. It’s clear that Larkin, Seider, and Raymond are trailblazing the path to Lord Stanley. 

Why not make it even more obvious and give the two young guys the alternate captain status fans are dreaming of and the players deserve?