Say what you will about the Steve Yzerman era, since some fans have been happy with Yzerman's progress while others are impatient. I can definitely see why a contingent of fans want 2025-26 to be "make it or break it" for Yzerman, but the pro-Yzerman crowd also has its say.
Well, today, I'm rolling with giving the pro-Yzerman crowd another point here, because the best move he made so far as Red Wings general manager was drafting Lucas Raymond fourth overall in 2020. Before 2020, the Wings didn't have anyone to build around until Raymond burst onto the scene starting in 2021-22.
Now, he's less than one season away from reaching a couple of mlestones. But I don't want to talk about Raymond's growing stat line, one that grew last season when he landed 80 points and 27 goals. Instead, let's break down what makes Raymond by far the best move of the Yzerman era.
Lucas Raymond has superstar potential that could land near par with generational talents
While the Red Wings don't have a true generational talent in their lineup, or anyone with Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, or Sidney Crosby potential, Raymond may, in time, get close to par with them. You don't need a McDavid, a Matthews, or a Crosby to win a Stanley Cup - and as I write this, only one of the three has won a Cup.
If you can get someone on the same level as Jack Eichel, Matthew Tkachuk, or Sam Reinhart, then you're doing just fine. And Raymond can easily slide in with those franchise cornrestones in Vegas and Florida. Heck, both of those franchises are steadily proving you don't need a generational talent; just elite-level players to build a team around.
That's where Raymond currently sits heading into 2025-26, and it's why Yzerman made the smart move to scoop him up at No. 4 in 2020 as opposed to rolling with someone else.
Steve Yzerman made the right call during the 2020 NHL Draft
As of July 2025, only Tim Stutzle has more points than Raymond from that class, but he went one slot ahead of Raymond, so that's not on Yzerman. Jake Sanderson went one slot after Raymond and has played well, but not at the same borderline elite level.
The sixth pick in that draft, Jamie Drysdale, is no longer with his original team and has struggled to carve out a niche for himself. Same for Alexander Holtz, the seventh pick in that year's draft. Jack Quinn, the eighth pick, has yet to break out and could wear the 'underachiever' label if 2025-26 proves to be a wash.
Finally, Marco Rossi and Cole Perfetti have found success in Minnesota and Winnipeg, but neither caught onto the NHL game as quickly as Raymond. So, it's safe to say that Yzerman made a good deal on draft day rolling with Raymond as opposed to reaching and going with someone who may not have factored in as well.
Sure, Rossi and Perfetti would be solid contributors had they gone fourth. But we'd probably be griping as to "Why didn't Yzerman pick Lucas Raymond?" at the top of our lungs had he gone with one or the other. As for the others on this list minus Sanderson, yeah, we should be heaving collective sighs of relief.
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