Getting to Know: Lucas Raymond

The Detroit Red Wings know when the NHL Draft Lottery is now but still don't know when the actual NHL Entry Draft will take place.

On June 26, the league was supposed to gather in Montreal for the draft but instead will hold a virtual draft lottery.

The Wings have an 18.5 percent chance of getting the first overall pick and will not draft any lower than fourth.

When NHL Central Scouting released its final rankings, Swedish forward Lucas Raymond was ranked fourth among international skaters.

Only Germany's Tim Stützle, Sweden's Alexander Holtz and Finland's Anton Lundell were higher on that list.

Alexis Lafrenière was ranked first overall among North American skaters.

In 33 games with Frölunda HC in the Swedish Hockey League, Raymond had four goals and six assists.

In early May, Raymond spoke via Zoom with TSN's Mark Masters.

"It was a good season, I think," Raymond told TSN. "Playing in a men's league, it's a big difference from juniors. With the team we had with such a good roster, I learned so much this year. I really had to fight for it and developed a lot not just on the ice, but off the ice as well by getting to be around those guys every day and see how they worked and practiced. I developed a lot."

Raymond also played nine games for Frölunda HC J20 in SuperElit, scoring three goals and 11 assists.

Craig Button, TSN's director of scouting, ranked Raymond ninth on his final Craig's List on March 30, the highest ranked Swede on that list.

"He reminds me a lot of (Toronto's) Mitch Marner," Button said on episode 146 of The Red and White Authority podcast. "Like Mitch, Lucas is incredibly confident holding the puck. He's incredibly confident holding the puck in traffic with opponents closing in on him or even on him. When it looks like an opponent has him negated, you don't because he's always able to have his hands free and get the puck into positions where he can make a play. He's got this great maneuverability with his pivoting and his agility and his footwork to be able to be elusive and strong on his feet.

"Lucas, he had an illness before the world junior, leading into the world junior. He got healthy but he lost a lot of strength. He was good at the world junior, he wasn't great. Then obviously playing in Frölunda, a great program, he didn't have as much traction with the big team. There was this back and forth about does he play on the junior team and up and whatnot. Lucas Raymond is a really, really good player."

In seven games at the IIHF World Junior Championship where Sweden won the bronze medal, Raymond had four points (2-2-4) in seven games.

"It's something you dreamed of since you were a little kid watching it growing up," Raymond said. "It was an amazing experience in the Czech (Republic) and I had a lot of fun. Unfortunately not ending in gold, but it was still a cool experience."

Red Line Report, in its draft guide, had Raymond ranked 11th, three spots after Holtz.

In March, Red Line Report raved about the young forward: "Little wizard with deft hands and rarely misses chances near the cage. Smooth with the puck and soft hands that control it well in tight areas. Had a brief stint in SHL after Worlds Juniors where he saw a healthy amount of ice time and even some PP time. Looked dynamic and poised, created lots of offensive stirs with quick skating, turns and sharp cuts; slippery and draws penalties. Made smart and quick decisions, finding chemistry on the power play with gives-and-goes and clever passes. But is back to lesser minutes and lesser impact, just showing a few glimpses per game of his potential."

Although the Swedish Hockey League, like the majority of leagues, canceled their postseason, Sweden itself has mostly remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing players there to practice together and work out at gyms.

"We got a little free time after the season ended, but we've been practicing for about three weeks now," Raymond said. "So, it's working pretty good. We're fortunate to be able to do it. I, personally, would freak out just staying at home. We're pretty lucky here."

An additional advantage that Raymond has over other prospects is his mother, Cecilia, who happens to be a personal trainer and nutrition coach.

"Of course, it helped me," Raymond said. "But sometimes it's different hearing it from your mom. I think if somebody else who wasn't my mom would've told me the same things I probably would have bought it even more. But she helped me a lot. It's something that's become natural for me since I grew up learning about food and what to eat and what not to eat."

Of course, there is a downside.

"Yeah, it's tough having a cheat day," Raymond said.