NHL Draft: 5 Reasons To Fall In Love With Lucas Raymond
By Nick Villano
5. Raymond Is Already Contributing In A High-Level League
Raymond is going into his second full-time season in Sweden’s top league. He’s playing for Frolunda HC of the SHL. Last season, he played 33 games with the top team after scoring 14 points in nine games with his U20 team.
He had 10 points in those 33 games. That isn’t impressive on paper, but teenagers usually take some time to get scoring in the men’s league. It took Jesper Boqvist four years of SHL experience just to get to 35 points in 51 games for Brynas. Now, he’s one of the most exciting prospects in the Devils system. Simon Holmstrom, last year’s top Swedish forward drafted, only had one game played in the SHL in his draft year. He didn’t even spend another season in Sweden, coming straight to the AHL’s Bridgeport Tigers.
Raymond likely wouldn’t do that since his season already started and he’s signed through the end of this season. It would be a really easy transition to let him play out the year in a lesser league to hone his skills. In one year’s time, Raymond could be ready to take the league by storm.