Raymond looking to prove himself after making Red Wings roster

Lucas Raymond says he was unsure.
After Monday's practice, when he went to meet with executive president and general manager Steve Yzerman, Raymond knew his immediate future hung in the balance. Thoughts ran through his mind. He tried to keep positive, telling himself that even if the news wasn't what he wanted, he'd simply take it from there.

But his own uncertainty belied a fact obvious to most observers, evidenced by the decision the Detroit Red Wings made in putting the rookie on the Opening Night roster: Raymond, through the Prospect Tournament, training camp and an eight-game preseason, had made it all but impossible to keep him off the team.
"You get more comfortable," Raymond said of his confidence. "You get into more and more of the tempo and everything. So every game helps."

All of 19 years old, Raymond said that, at least to this point, he hasn't had a welcome to the NHL moment. Yes, it's cool for him to play at Little Caesars Arena, playing alongside guys he's watched on TV. Yes, he's needed to acclimate to the smaller ice, to the system, to the speed of the game. But he hasn't felt out of his depth, not even for a moment.
"Haven't played an NHL game yet, I guess," he joked, downplaying it.
Doubtless, those moments will come over the course of his rookie season. But that he's gotten this far without it underscores his readiness.
"It's been pretty smooth," Raymond said. "We had a lot of trainings up in Traverse (City), games got to get going up there, and then after that, you just kinda get into habits."

Raymond said that after meeting with Yzerman, he delivered the news to his parents and brother. They were happy for him, celebrating the coming true of a dream Raymond has had since the age of three. But he's keeping a level head.
"Just because I made the Opening Night roster doesn't mean that I'll play the entire season," Raymond said, relaying Yzerman's message to him. "So for me, it's just to go out there and prove myself and then I'll take it from there."
A little over 48 hours out from his first regular-season game, Raymond again displayed a maturity that hid his age, sitting at a podium and saying all the right things in the face of pressure that will only build.
This will be the reality for him and Moritz Seider, Detroit's two highly-touted rookies: hopes pinned to their every game, fair or not.
"We're always excited about potential and I get that. So am I," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. "But potential has to become reality and I think both Seider and Raymond have attributes to become real good hockey players and real good winners, which matters.
"Now how good can they become? I don't know that answer. And how quickly? I don't know that answer. That's for them to kinda decide with their play on a night to night basis."

Power play units developing

The Red Wings practiced special teams at the end of Tuesday's practice, giving a glimpse at what the power play units could look like on Thursday. There was a fair amount of rotating, with Blashill saying 13 guys are competing for 10 spots - a competition that may not be over by Opening Night.
"It doesn't have to be to 10 in Game 1," Blashill said. "Ultimately we'd like to get to where there's chemistry built. I also think competition's important, and we'll (see) which guys get it done."
On the first unit, Tyler Bertuzzi played net-front with Nick Leddy quarterbacking the group. Dylan Larkin and Raymond were on either side, with Adam Erne and Sam Gagner rotating in the middle slot.
On the second unit, Seider was up top with Filip Hronek, Robby Fabbri and Filip Zadina on the flanks and in the bumper spot. Pius Suter mostly played the net-front role, with Michael Rasmussen getting a couple of reps.

Due to injuries and roster rotation in the preseason, the Red Wings have only had limited chances to play their preferred groups together. But the power play looked much improved in the preseason compared to last year, when Detroit ranked 30th in conversion rate on the man advantage.
"I think when we've been successful, we've moved the puck crisply, we've moved it quickly and we haven't forced plays," Blashill said. "And when we've struggled, we've become too nonchalant with the puck or careless and forced plays. I thought it's got a chance to be good power play units, but we've gotta move it quickly and make sure we don't force plays."