Chicago — Lucas Raymond is just entering his second NHL season, but Chicago’s United Center should already be near his list of favorite rinks.
Indeed, it’s always the noisy, noisy buildings where fans get hooked on games more than anywhere else.
But Raymond finds success here too. a lot.
Last season, Raymond had a hat-trick and an assist, a four-point game, in his first week in the NHL. This pre-season saw Raymond score one goal and two assists in United’s exhibition win at centre.
“I’ve made it in this building. I like playing here,” Raymond said after Friday morning’s skating. “But every game is new. Different situations (every game).” is.”
Raymond was still looking for his first goal in three games of the season ahead of Friday’s game. He earned his two assists and a plus-four rating. This is a testament to the improvement and enhancement of his and the Wings’ overall defense.
Moritz Cider has been a rookie sensation for the past year after winning the NHL’s Calder Trophy in style.
If anything, it’s further proof of how difficult the NHL is, and how difficult the second year of the NHL is compared to the first.
Manager Derek Lalonde said, “It’s a really difficult league, and they’ve had a lot of success, but that success is the result of hard work, and we need to always know why we succeeded.” “It’s every night. It’s good to be in this league, but it’s something else to be good every night.”
Like everyone on the roster, Lalonde is focused on team defense. Sider and Raymond are no exception, and Lalonde wants both young players to focus on keeping the puck out of the Wings’ net. increase.
“They are still young and have to live up to expectations,” said Lalonde. “We do it for them. They’re still growing and creating habits.
“Especially towards the end of[last season]they were in a weird situation. They[the Wings]got out of it and maybe that’s why they were playing a little looser. We’re asking you to do that. I can even see the frustration…not surprising to me.
“It’s just a typical part of development. I guess.”
Dylan Larkin has seen for himself how difficult his sophomore year in the NHL has been, and after seeing his point total drop from 45 to 32, he talks about what Raymond and Sider can expect in training camp. talked.
“I played in the fourth row for most of the year and lost my place to some veteran players,” Larkin said. “They don’t want that to happen.
“They are more talented and skilled than I am at that age. They are a big part of this team. “He’s taking steps to become the top player in this league, not just the top player on our team.”
Opponents may not have had much of Raymond’s or Sader’s advance reconnaissance tools before, but now they have a good idea of what they can and can’t do well, tendencies, and how to attack.
Raymond hasn’t necessarily seen it yet, though.
“We’ll have to wait and see,” Raymond said. “It’s going to be different in a lot of ways. It’s only been two years and a lot of things aren’t brand new.
“No (I’ve still seen something different from my opponents. It’s up to you and that’s the biggest part I focus on.”)
Lalonde tweaked his line for Friday’s game and Raymond was removed from Larkin’s line. Raymond was placed on Andrew Kopp’s line and David Perron was placed on Larkin’s line.
There’s no doubt that Raymond and Cider will be a big part of what this Wings roster will ultimately look like in the years to come.
For Sider, his importance to the overall structure of the team was underscored last weekend when the Wings wore an ‘A’ (vice-captain) on their jerseys when they played in New Jersey.
The presence of cider on ice and its point does not necessarily accompany it.
“It says a lot about Mo,” Lalonde said last week of Cider coming to wear an “A.” It’s not something we can do, but someone who plays an important role for us will be respected as a leader in every situation, wrong, or indifferent.
“He has a good attitude about himself in the room. His practice habits, you guys see how hard he practices and growing to get better every day. is the process (leadership) that we are trying to develop in the room, and that too.”
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @tkulfan
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