'They're still growing': Seider, Raymond readying for second NHL seasons

DETROIT -- Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond established themselves as two of the NHL's brightest young stars in the 2021-22 season.

And after watching the strides Seider and Raymond made from afar last season, new Detroit Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde said he believes their development has only just begun.
"They're still growing," Lalonde said about Seider and Raymond. "You see it all the time. These players have immediate success in this league, which is very hard to do. Then, they go through wanting more out of their game and do things that they weren't doing the previous years. It's a tough balance, but there's still growth and development."

Seider,
who won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's top rookie last season
, led all first-year skaters in assists (43), power-play points (21), average time on ice (23:03) and was one of three rookies, along with Raymond and New Jersey Devils forward Dawson Mercer, to play in all 82 games.
The 21-year-old Seider said the biggest challenge in his second NHL campaign will be staying true to himself.
"I just like having fun with the guys," said Seider, who was Detroit's sixth overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. "I'm not the type of guy who stands up and screams. I try to lead by example, but some nights, that goes better than others. I just want to be myself."
As for Raymond, who finished third among first-year skaters in points (57), fourth in assists (34) and tied for second in goals (23) in 2021-22, he's focused on improving his overall game.

"Just developing both on and off the ice," the 20-year-old Raymond said. "I'm still young. I want to keep developing physically on the ice and trying to play my game. That will help me evolve."
Raymond, drafted fourth overall by the Red Wings in 2020, describes himself as his own toughest critic.
"I think the most pressure comes from myself," Raymond said. "I'm just trying to stick to my game and if I do that, it will lead to success."
According to Raymond, when he's not competing against Seider during practice, they're strengthening their friendship off the ice.
"We're great friends," Raymond said. "We live close to each other and spend a lot of time with each other. It was great for both of us to work through the same things last season."
As Raymond and Seider continue leaning on each other, Lalonde stressed the importance of a lesson he hopes the pair embraces in 2022-23.

"Control the things you can control and live in the moment," Lalonde said. "I would even add because they are the players they are, they will be naturally looked upon in a leadership role."
While Lalonde said he doesn't foresee either player wearing a letter this season, he expects Raymond and Seider will be viewed as role models by their teammates.
"It's just the reality of it and it's part of that development," Lalonde said. "There's a lot that goes into it and it's hard, which is why it takes time. That's why we work with them to keep them heading in the right direction."